Call for Participants: Contemporary Art Curatorial Workshop (Application Deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026)

2026.2.12 [Thu]

The Mori Art Museum is engaged in the “Global Art Professionals Development Project,” which aims to foster early to mid-career curators based in Japan. This project is implemented as part of the Support Programs for Cultural Facilities Function Enhancement, grant from Japan Creator Support fund, Japan Arts Council / the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan.

In 2026, a workshop focusing on contemporary art curation will be held in Sydney and Tokyo in May 2026, targeting early to mid-career curators and researchers. The program will welcome four internationally active curators and museum directors as lecturers and will provide participants with the opportunity to be exposed to the knowledge and theoretical frameworks required to plan and realize large-scale exhibitions at international exhibitions (such as biennials and triennials) and major international museums.

In addition, participants will engage in practical curatorial training through the development of an exhibition proposal envisioned for submission to an open call for an international exhibition. By building professional networks both in Japan and abroad, the program aims to cultivate curators capable of playing an active role in the field of contemporary art curation on a global scale.

We look forward to receiving your applications.

Global Art Professional Development Project
Contemporary Art Curatorial Workshop

Schedule: Monday, May 25 - Sunday, May 31, 2026
Locations: Sydney and Tokyo
Workshop Lecturers (TBC): Eungie Joo (Independent Curator)
Carol Yinghua Lu (Art Historian, Curator, Director of Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum)
Adriano Pedrosa (Artistic Director, Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP))
Kataoka Mami (Director, Mori Art Museum)

Adriano Pedrosa
Photo: Andrea Avezzù
Photo courtesy: La Biennale di Venezia

Number of Participants

Eligibility Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher degrees with 3+ years of professional experience, or possess equivalent experiences. PhD candidates are eligible to apply.
Curatorial experience of at least three contemporary art exhibitions.
Full participation required at pre-workshop meetings and for the duration of the entire workshop program.
Based in Japan or actively working in Japan. (Nationality unrestricted)
Fluency in English in reading, writing, and communication. (Workshop will be conducted in English)
Motivation to curate large-scale international exhibitions and museum projects.
Informed and aware of current and recent international exhibitions.
Fundamental knowledge required to discuss curatorial concepts in English with the lecturers (see suggested Reading List below).
Reading List:
https://artplatform.go.jp/ja/reading-lists
https://contents.artplatform.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/APJ_Introductory_Readings.pdf

Participation Fee

Free of charge

Selection Process

First Round: By document screening
Second Round: Online interview (To be conducted in Japanese and English)

Selection Results

First-Round Results: Notified by email by Friday, March 6, 2026
Final Results: Notified by email by Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Application Deadline

Monday, March 2, 2026, 5:00 PM (JST)

Application Guidelines

Click here（PDF/3.27MB）

Application Form

Click here (Google Form)
* Access to the form requires logging in with a Google account.
* If you plan to apply and do not have a Google account, please contact the Administration Office at 　 (Attn: Miho Doi / Keiko Suzuki).

Inquiries

E-mail: 　 * AMCN Ltd.: Attn: Doi Miho, Suzuki Keiko

Handling of Personal Information

1. Personal information submitted will be managed by AMCN Co., Ltd. in accordance with Mori Building Co., Ltd.’s Privacy Policy. However, for the purposes stipulated in the following section, the Global Art Professional Development Project may jointly use the personal information provided in the application (including name, date of birth, address, contact information, and biography) with Mori Building Co., Ltd., the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Japan Arts Council, selection committee members, and relevant stakeholders. AMCN Ltd. will take full responsibility for the management of applicants’ personal information.

2. Personal information submitted to Mori Building Co., Ltd. and AMCN Inc for the Contemporary Art Curatorial Workshop will be used for the following purposes:
1) To conduct the screening and selection process for project participants.
2) To enable project stakeholders to contact applicants and selected participants.
3) To publish information in project reports, websites, media, and other promotional materials.
4) To manage and operate various events related to this project.
5) To conduct post-project evaluations and follow-ups.
6) To serve as a reference for policy-making by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council.
7) To provide information regarding other projects managed by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council.
8) For other matters related to the above purposes.

3. For detailed information regarding the privacy policies and initiatives of the respective organizations, please refer to the following websites:
1) Mori Building Co., Ltd.
https://www.mori.co.jp/en/privacypolicy/
2) Agency for Cultural Affairs
https://www.bunka.go.jp/shinsei_boshu/kojinjohohogo/index.html
3) Japan Arts Council
https://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/about/individualinfo/

Organizer: Mori Art Museum
Grants from: Japan Creator Support Fund (Japan Arts Council)
Japan Arts Council
Administration Office: AMCN Co., Ltd.