New Art Center Curatorial Opportunity Program for Artists and Curators 2016

The New Art Center's Curatorial Opportunity Program (COP) supports independent curators of contemporary art by making diverse visions possible in a non-profit and alternative exhibition space. The program investigates contemporary culture through the visual arts, exhibits strong curatorial voices, and encourages the timely examination of new ideas and perspectives. The New Art Center is accepting curatorial proposals for 5- to 6-week group exhibitions from September 2017 – May 2018 at the New Art Center in Newton. Electronic submissions must be received before June 1, 2016.

The Main Gallery is one of the few mid-sized nonprofit exhibition spaces in New England, attracting over 5,000 visitors each year. The gallery occupies the hall of a former church with 25-foot vaulted ceilings, substantial natural light, and several movable wall panels. The space is approximately 2,000 square feet, with an average width of 39 feet and an average length of 50+ feet. Proposals must include works by two artists or more and must include at least one public presentation with an educational component. Exhibitions can include works in a single medium or several media, from painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and video to installation art, performance art and sound art. Exhibitions can be organized around medium or process, or can investigate social, cultural, historical, theoretical or political concepts.

For each exhibition, the New Art Center provides a $1,000 USD curator stipend to be applied to exhibition-related expenses at the curator's discretion, awarded after the opening reception. The NAC also provides a set budget for printing of a postcard invitation, public relations support, advertisements and extensive listings, duplication of material for distribution, gallery signage, insurance up to $150,000 for artwork, physical assistance in preparing the space, and an opening reception with refreshments. The NAC does not provide transportation of artworks or pay for unusual installation construction. All artists and curators are eligible regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, belief, national origin, sexual orientation or physical abilities. While artists and curators from the greater Boston area are encouraged to participate, there are no geographic restrictions. The NAC does not pay for travel expenses. Proposals will not be considered for one-person exhibitions, if they envision a general call to artists, if they lack a statement of concept, if they require financial support beyond the usual stipend and services, if they are late or incomplete, if they are inappropriately scaled for the Main Gallery, or if they have highly unusual installation requirements.