Call for Exhibition Proposals
Art Periodic South Africa (A°P) invites South African curators, curatorial teams, collectives, galleries, NPOs, and arts organisations to submit exhibition proposals for South Africa’s official participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia (2026).
Given the condensed schedule, this Open Call is being fast-tracked to secure South Africa’s full and effective participation. The deadline for submissions is 24 November 2025.
Curators are invited to respond to Koyo Kouoh’s exhibition framework In Minor Keys, not to illustrate it, but to extend it. Rather than prescribing a single theme, A°P encourages curatorial concepts that capture the vitality, nuance, and complexity of South African art today, offering multiple interpretations of what cultural ownership might mean in a global context.
Required Materials
- Curatorial statement (max 1 000 words) engaging with In Minor Keys and situating the proposed exhibition within a broader conceptual framework.
- Details and short bios of curator(s) and proposed artist(s).
- Supporting imagery (concept sketches, installation references, or sample artworks).
- Preliminary budget estimates where possible including artist and curator fees, production and shipping estimates, and a provisional timeline. Applicants are encouraged to indicate any confirmed or potential support, financial, logistical, or in-kind, as this will strengthen the proposal and demonstrate feasibility.
- Organisational profile (if applicable) outlining curatorial or production capacity, relevant experience, and institutional support.
- Contact details for curator(s) and/or organisational representatives.
Proposals must be submitted via the official online form available at www.artperiodic.co.za.
(Links to the Pavilion floorplan, technical guidelines, and past exhibitions will be available on the A°P website.)