Chicago Curatorial Seminar 2026

In this program, eight Chicago-based emerging curators will meet over eight sessions from September to December 2026 for discussion-based seminars and site visits led by ICI staff, guest curators, artists, and arts professionals. Each participant will also workshop a proposal for a project and receive individual advisement from selected mentors, who provide a unique perspective on the participant's curatorial practice. This Seminar's site visits include Hyde Park Art Center, Patient Info, Wrightwood 659, and the National Museum of Mexican Art.

About the Curatorial Seminar

ICI's Curatorial Seminar is a free professional development program that supports emerging curators to advance their practice. It centers a first-person approach to curating, and focuses on strengthening curatorial practices that support overlooked artists and engage with local art communities while working outside of a large institution. This unique program offers opportunities to gain knowledge and resources through ICI’s network, share ideas, and think through developments in one's own curatorial practice. Through this process, the Seminar seeks to build an affirming network of peers who connect around common values, and support the sharing of knowledge among early-career curators.

The Chicago Curatorial Seminar is made possible by The Joyce Foundation and Teiger Foundation, with additional support from the ICI Board of Trustees.