LIC Arts Open CALL for curators!
Submission Deadline: March 30th, 2026
Acceptance Notification: April 5th.
The 13th LIC Arts Open festival will include art exhibitions, events, performances, workshops, and of course Open Studios! The festival will run from May 13-17, 2026, with Open Studios on Saturday and Sunday, May 16+17 from noon to 6:00pm.
SEEKING CURATORS BASED IN OR DEEPLY CONNECTED TO QUEENS
We encourage curator from all parts of Queens to submit proposals!
LIC Arts Open 13 (2026) — produced by Long Island City Artists (LIC-A) — celebrates and amplifies the richly diverse artistic talent thriving across Queens. Through pop-up exhibitions, open studios, performances, and community events, we foster greater visibility, appreciation, and connection to the borough's vibrant creative ecosystem.
CALL FOR CURATORIAL PROPOSALS: 5-Day Pop-Up Exhibitions**
Festival Dates: May 13–17, 2026
Exhibition Locations: Various partner venues and spaces throughout Long Island City (LIC), Queens, NY
Curator Stipends: Average of $200–$500 per curator (based on venue scope, number of artists, and responsibilities)
Installation Dates: May 11–13, 2026 (team support & tools provided)
Kickoff Party: Evening of Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (location TBA) – join us for the official festival launch!
Deadline March 30, 2026
(Proposals received after this date may be considered if slots remain.)
Curator Responsibilities & Qualifications
We invite experienced curators who live, work, or maintain strong ties in Queens to propose dynamic, thematic pop-up exhibitions that highlight Queens-based artists.
Ideal candidates will bring:
- At least 3 years of experience curating pop-up, group, or site-specific exhibitions
- Excellent collaborative, organizational, and communication skills
- Commitment to being present during all open hours of the exhibition or having a artist volunteers available to cover part of the shift.
- Availability for installation days (assisted by volunteers and festival production team)
- Ability to collaborate closely with LIC-A festival staff, production managers, and the creative team
Each selected curator will:
- Develop a compelling exhibition concept aligned with the festival's mission
- Select and coordinate approximately 10–25 Queens-based artists' works (scale varies by venue size and stipend level)
- Help manage artist relations, installation, and de-installation
-Curators are not expected to pay rent for space, pay for snacks/drinks etc.!
Proposal Guidelines
Proposals must include an "open call to artists" living and/or working in Queens. LIC-A will manage the open call process via a dedicated Formstack submission form, compiling entries for the curator's review and selection.
Your proposal should outline:
- Exhibition theme/concept and how it reflects Queens' diverse artistic voices
- Intended artist selection process and approximate number of participants
- How the project engages the community and festival audiences
- Your relevant experience and vision for collaboration
For more information about LIC-A and LIC Arts Open, visit www.licartists.org
We look forward to your innovative ideas and to showcasing Queens' extraordinary artistic community together in 2026!
Your participation will help to make this the best LIC Arts Open ever!!