Call for Applications: 2026 IA Current Curator
Application deadline: May 11, 2026
InterAccess is seeking an emerging curator to lead the 2026 IA Current Program, a professional development opportunity for emerging curators and artists interested in new media practices. Working with the guidance and support of InterAccess's staff, technicians, and community, the IA Current curator will use their vision and critical perspective to research, develop, and execute the 25th annual IA Current exhibition.
The exhibition will be presented in-person in InterAccess's gallery from October – November, 2026.
The IA Current curator will receive a total fee of up to $2641, inclusive of curator, writer, and speaker fees.
Eligibility Criteria
>> InterAccess welcomes applications from emerging curatorial professionals and arts workers with fewer than four consecutive years of related professional experience, including undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates in a related field of study.
>> The IA Current Curator must be available for key dates between August 1 – December 9, 2026.
InterAccess is committed to equity and strongly encourages applications from equity-deserving communities, including individuals who are Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQ-identified, Gender Diverse, Two-Spirit, and Persons with Disabilities.
Expected Workflow
The IA Current curator will work both independently and with the guidance and support of InterAccess on the following:
- Further researching and developing their curatorial thesis
- Researching and selecting artists
- Contracting artists
- Presenting an exhibition proposal, including artists and exhibition layout, to the InterAccess Programming Committee
- Collecting technical specifications from artists
- Assisting with both exhibition installation (Oct 26 – 30) and de-installation (Dec 8–9)
- Hosting a curator tour or other public program during the exhibition run
- Writing an accompanying curatorial essay
Submission Materials
- Curatorial statement (500 words maximum)
- Exhibition proposal, including one emerging artist desired for exhibition and brief dscription of proposed auxiliary program, such as a curator tour (500 words maximum)
- CV and/or Portfolio (optional, recommended)
- Exhibition budget (optional, recommended)
- Additional support materials (if necessary, 5 images or 5 minutes timed media maximum)
Submission Process
Send submissions to art@interaccess.org with subject line: IA Current 2026 | <CURATOR NAME> in one of the following formats:
- Single PDF (images linked or embedded, maximum 20MB)
- Zipped folder (maximum 20MB) attached to email or through file hosting service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc)
- Video/ASL (10 minutes, 100MB maximum)
We ask that applicants ensure their files are properly formatted, with no broken links, and file share permissions are functional for downloading and viewing. We may not reach out for corrections if submissions are technically inaccessible.
Floor plans for InterAccess's gallery space can be shared upon request. Gallery floor area is approximately 26ft x 38ft.
Selection Criteria
The IA Current curator is selected by InterAccess's Programming Committee, comprised of InterAccess staff members and practicing artists, curators, academics, and writers in the new media community. The committee considers InterAccess's prioritization of expanding the cultural space of art and technology, supporting electronic, interactive, and new media works in sculpture, installation, video, software, sound/music, and performance. Submissions are evaluated in terms of how the proposed exhibition will:
- Engage in experimentation and exploration of media arts practices
- Catalyze critical discourse around new media practices
- Provide support to equity-deserving communities and artists facing systematic barriers
- Foster collaboration
- Consider exhibition feasibility and capacity of InterAccess and the curator
Applicants are encouraged to address the above criteria in their submission material.
Information Session & Office Hours
For insight into the application process, please join us for an information session or office hours at the following dates:
Information Session and Q&A
April 10, 2026, 4–5PM ET
Online, registration required
Office hours
- April 24, 2026, 12–2PM ET
- May 6, 2026, 3–5PM ET
Office hours are held online over Discord. Register to reserve a time here or drop-in. Discord invite link provided upon registration.
Please contact InterAccess's Programming Manager (art@interaccess.org) with any questions regarding the submissions process and allow 3-5 working days for a response.
The InterAccess Current (IA Current) program supports the professional development of emerging curators and artists interested in new media and electronic practices. Each year, InterAccess selects an emerging curator, who works closely with InterAccess staff to conceptualize and execute an exhibition of works by emerging artists. Current refers to the now, but it is also an energetic charge that causes light, heat, and all manner of electronic life – an apt metaphor for emergent creative practices within the ever-expanding field of new media.