OPEN CALL: Emerging Curator Residency Program

Aiming to continuously rethink and re-examine the scope and the boundaries of “curating architecture,” the CCA solicits ideas for projects that take innovative curatorial approaches and experimental formats.

The Emerging Curator Residency Program offers the opportunity to propose and curate a project at the CCA related to contemporary debates in architecture, urban issues, landscape design, and cultural and social dynamics while completing a residency at the CCA.

The CCA encourages a wide range of proposals for curatorial projects with a broad scope. Proposals must bring an innovative curatorial model to the contemporary discourse on architecture. The CCA seeks proposals that use the curatorial project as a tool to foster ideas, question relevant positions, introduce new research themes, and critique current modalities, with the ultimate goal of advancing new thinking for architecture and the built environment. Particular attention will be given to projects that intend to locate the discourse of architecture within a broader context across disciplines and practices, and that also point to overlooked areas of knowledge or engage with plural and diverse voices.

The output of the proposal may follow many trajectories, and the result may be as varied as an editorial project, a program of seminars and research colloquiums, a series of public events or workshops, a collection-based project, the production of content for the web and social media, a documentary film, or a physical or virtual exhibition. Interdisciplinary and collaborative practices are encouraged. The proposal must be explicit about the choice and relationship of format with content.

The Emerging Curator Residency Program includes a mentorship period that ensures the final candidates’ understanding of CCA culture and curatorial procedures. The CCA will select three finalists who will be mentored remotely by the CCA curatorial team over a two-month period in September–October 2026. During this time, the finalists will fine-tune their project proposal and receive constructive feedback. At the end of this two-month period, the CCA will re-evaluate the three projects and choose one that the CCA will develop and produce in collaboration with the selected Emerging Curator. The other two finalists whose projects will not be realized will have the opportunity to publish their research on the CCA website. The CCA Emerging Curator Residency Program is an occasion for motivated individuals who seek experience in reflecting on the role of architecture discourse within the context of a cultural institution. The selected candidate will be asked to complete a three-month residency at the CCA to develop and implement the project with the CCA team.

During the residency, the candidate will become further acquainted with the CCA’s institutional knowledge and vision, explore the institution’s resources and the collection holdings, and develop their curatorial vision to produce the proposed project. The CCA will provide guidance towards the project’s realization. The residency should take place between January 2027 and June 2027. The project should be completed by the end of 2028.

The CCA Emerging Curator Residency Program aims to nurture a new generation of cultural practitioners who are builders of institutions and communities.

The call for applications opens on 2 February 2026 and the deadline for applications is 9 March 2026 by 5pm EDT.

Architects, journalists, designers, critics, historians, photographers, artists, and other scholars and professionals thirty (30) years of age or younger on 1 January 2026 are eligible for this program, regardless of citizenship and place of residence.*

The three finalists will receive a support fee of CAD 1,000 for their participation during the mentorship period (approx. 10 hours/week over two months). The final recipient will receive CAD 12,000 to cover travel, housing, and living expenses for a three-month residency in Montréal. These payments are subject to the income tax laws of Canada and Quebec. The production cost of the project will be funded by CCA. The languages in use at the CCA are English and French.

Collective or collaborative projects are welcome; however, CCA’s financial support will remain the same and will need to be shared among the collective.

All submissions must be new projects, never before presented, published, or realized.

The scope of the project and specific timing of the residency will be determined in consultation with members of CCA’s curatorial committee. No more than one project per applicant will be accepted.

*Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria of this program and who wish to submit a curatorial project to the CCA may do so by sending their project to curatorialopportunities@cca.qc.ca.

Projects received will be evaluated by the CCA Curatorial Committee.

Applications should be submitted through the CCA online application portal and include the following information, in English or French (PDF files no larger than 5MB):

1) A curatorial statement (1,000 to 1,500 words, with no more than ten images), including the description of the project and a strategic justification. This document must also present the curatorial vision and the chosen format clearly;

2) A curriculum vitae detailing education, research, and professional experience, working languages, and any other relevant information;

3) A representative selection of realized projects that convey an impression of the candidate’s distinct approach;

4) Contact information for two academic or professional references who are familiar with the candidate and their work.

Only applications submitted through the online application portal will be accepted.

The CCA will select finalists according to the following criteria: originality of the curatorial statement and approach, relevance to architectural thinking and practice, expertise and trajectory of the candidate, feasibility, and relevance to the curatorial direction and vision of the CCA.

The CCA will notify all applicants in May 2026.

A final agreement will be effective only after the selected recipient has obtained all required authorization from the immigration authorities of both Quebec and Canada.

For more information, please send an email to curatorialopportunities@cca.qc.ca.

The diversity of our institution is at the core of our creativity and strengthens our research efforts. While all qualified candidates are invited to apply, we particularly welcome applications from persons with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and other people of colour, of all genders, and LGBTQ+ persons. Candidates are encouraged to self-identify in their application (CV or cover letter). Applicants who require accommodations for any part of the application process can contact [vsamson@cca.qc.ca] (mailto: vsamson@cca.qc.ca) to receive confidential assistance.

This program is generously supported by the Power Corporation of Canada.

As of 2021 the Emerging Curator Residency Program replaces the Emerging Curator Program, which the CCA had offered since 2011.