CALL FOR EMERGING CURATORS OF NEW MEXICO 2026-2027
Blue Sky NM and Harwood Art Center are excited to announce the inaugural SURFACE: Emerging Curators of New Mexico Fellowship, a new opportunity designed to support the professional growth, visibility, and viability of curatorial talents in our community. The SURFACE: Emerging Curators of New Mexico Fellowship is dedicated to cultivating the growth of local creative talents, supporting their professional viability in the field, and expanding their visibility in the public sphere. The fellowship reflects a new component to Harwood Art Center’s SURFACE Emerging Artists of New Mexico Program, now in its 14th year.
PROGRAM
One SURFACE Curatorial Fellow will be selected to co-curate and manage the annual exhibition calendar (3 exhibitions from April 2026 – June 2027) for the new Blue Sky NM Co-Working Community in Nob Hill; co-select exhibiting artists through an invitational call to SURFACE: Emerging Artists’ now 160+ program alumni; and receive mentorship, support, and co-design from Harwood Art Center’s Curatorial Team.
INVITATION
Emerging Curators based in New Mexico are invited to apply for this fellowship pilot program. Applications are due Monday, March 2, 2026 at 11:59pm. There is a $10 fee to apply, which supports administration of the fellowship program. If you need a fee waiver, please email gallery@harwoodartcenter.org.
ELIGIBILITY
SURFACE: Emerging Curators of New Mexico is open to individuals of all curatorial interests, backgrounds, perspectives, approaches, and aesthetics. Harwood takes a broad approach to “emerging,” and applicants are asked to self-identify with this description. As an emerging curators program, your range of experience may vary, and you do not need previous curatorial experience. However applications should demonstrate a commitment to creative practice(s) and collaborative organizing. Applicants must be living, working and/or studying in New Mexico at the time of application and through the duration of the fellowship (April 2026 – June 2027); the fellowship is IN PERSON AND ON SITE IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
AWARD
Building on Blue Sky & Harwood’s ongoing commitment to value the arts, artists, and labor, the selected 2026-27 Curatorial Fellow will receive an honorarium of $4,500 (or, $1,500 per each of 3 exhibitions); a co-working space at the new Blue Sky NM Co-Working Community for the duration of the fellowship; and participation in Harwood Art Center’s SURFACE professional development workshop (July 2026).
EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
Pilot season exhibitions will be selected through an invitational call to Harwood’s SURFACE: Emerging Artist Alumni, now 160+ local artists. With Harwood Curatorial Team, the Curatorial Fellow will co-curate, -install and -manage (3) 4-month exhibitions from 2026 – 2027: July – October; November – February; March – June. For each exhibition, the Curatorial Fellow will also facilitate a public event that coincides with Nob Hill’s First Friday event scheduled. They may also facilitate more events in collaboration with the artist(s) and Blue Sky.
MENTORSHIP & TRAINING
The selected Fellow will receive mentorship, support, and co-design from Harwood Art Center’s expert Curatorial Team: Director of Opportunity Helen Atkins, Director of Engagement Jordyn Renteria, and Chief Programs Officer Julia Mandeville, who collectively offer decades of award-winning experience in curatorial, organizing, and public program design.
APPLICATION FEE & PROCESS
The application fee is $10; all collected fees are allocated to Harwood’s administration of the program. If the application fee presents a barrier, you are still encouraged to apply, please submit the application and email us to confirm your fee waver. Applicants can expect notifications in late April or early May.
