Stel je kandidaat voor het Young Curators Programme tijdens de Biënnale van Venetië 2026

Wat?

De zes deelnemers die geselecteerd worden voor de editie 2026 zullen deelnemen in tweetalige duo’s voor één van de vier termijnen van een maand die wordt aangeboden tijdens de 61ste Biënnale van Venetië. Ze zullen actief deelnemen aan de voorbereiding van IT NEVER SSST door Miet Warlop, een multidisciplinair project op het snijvlak van performance, muziek en beeldende kunsten, dat België zal vertegenwoordigen in het nationale paviljoen in de Giardini van de Biënnale.

Aanmelden

Stuur je kandidatuur in één PDF-formaat uiterlijk op 2 november 2025. Je e-mail dient de volgende documenten te bevatten:

• Een beknopt CV (maximaal twee pagina’s)
• Een motivatiebrief in het Engels
• Geef je beschikbaarheid en voorkeur voor een sessie aan (zie de belangrijkste data voor de termijnopties).
• Voor niet-Belgische personen, een attest van de gemeente/stad waaruit blijkt dat je al minstens twee jaar in Brussel, Wallonië of Vlaanderen woont.

E-mail je kandidatuur naar ycp@belgianpavilion.be met als onderwerpregel “YCP 2026 Aanvraag + jouw naam”.

Partners

Dit is een initiatief van Curatorial Studies, KASK & Conservatorium, the school of arts of HOGENT and howest; Master en Pratiques de l’Exposition (CARE), ARBA-ESA; Vlaamse overheid; Direction des Arts visuels de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles; en Bureau International de la Jeunesse (BIJ).

Deze editie wordt mee georganiseerd door MORPHO en KANAL-Centre Pompidou.

Selection procedure (in het Engels)

• Application period: October 2 – November 2, 2025
• Notification of the shortlisted candidates: November 10, 2025
• Jury interviews with the shortlisted candidates: November 13, 2025
• Notification of the results: by November 20, 2025
• Introductory gathering with the selected curators: November 28, 2025
  

Pre-programme in Antwerp

• Week 1: 5 February 2026
• Week 2: 12 February 2026
• Week 3: 19 February 2026
• Week 4: 26 February 2026

Dates in Venice

• Opening Week (all participants): 5 – 10 May 2026
• Term 1 (7 weeks): 12 May – 29 June 2026 (follows straight after the opening week)
• Term 2 (9 weeks): 30 June – 31 August 2026
• Term 3 (12 weeks): 1 September – 23 November 2026

YCP provides

• One return ticket from Brussels to Venice for one 7-week-long term;
• A remuneration payable by invoice or via Amplo (Social Office for Artists); for this edition, the wage remains to be confirmed because of an ongoing effort by the partners of securing a budget that can guarantee a fair starter pay scale;
• Accommodation in a shared apartment (with private rooms);
• Access to the Biennale venues;
• A Venezia Unica City Pass, for transportation in the lagoon (tickets are the responsibility of each participant);
• The programme will provide occupational accident insurance for the duration of the curator’s stay. Participants are expected to arrange their own travel insurance (covering hospitalisation and medical costs) as well as civil liability insurance.

Eigibility criteria

• You have graduated in the last ten years from a curatorial programme in Belgium with a focus on exhibition-making or curatorial studies;
• Current students may only apply for Term 3, provided they graduate; by July 2026. They are not eligible for Terms 1 and 2;
• You are between 18 and 35 years old;
• You must provide proof of residency in Belgium for a minimum of two years. Participants are expected to
• Be available and present in Venice for the whole duration of their programme terms, as well as participate in the pre-programme in Antwerp;
• Play a role in connecting the daily life of the performance to the pavilion’s visitors and team as its representatives in Venice;
• Offer active mediation in the pavilion approximately three times a week from 11am-4pm (May-September) or 10am-3pm (October-November) during their stay in Venice;
• Contribute to the maintenance and well-functioning of the exhibition together with pavilion manager Giulio Piovesan. This might include occasionally assisting in light performative actions or organisational tasks;
• Create content (text, sound, image or short video) to the YCP section of the Belgian Pavilion website or project instagram at least once during their stay;
• Write a short report or organise an event (at MORPHO or in their alma mater) about their research related to the histories, presents and possible futures of the Belgian pavilion following their stay.
  

Required profile

• Interest in mediation in relation to live arts, specifically how visual art can intersect with music and performance;
• Curiosity in developing teamwork methods;
• Positive energy, critical thinking and the drive to make it your own;
• Good knowledge of English;
• Punctuality and respect for commitments;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Questions?

If you have questions about the programme and application procedure, send an email to YCP Coordinator Laila Melchior at ycp@belgianpavilion.be.