2026 AHL-Chun Family Foundation Curatorial OPEN CALL

 

Overview

AHL-Chun Family Foundation Curatorial Open Call offers a $5,000 stipend to curators of Korean heritage. This initiative aligns with the AHL Foundation’s mission to encourage curatorial research in contemporary Korean art and promote diversity within the curatorial field. The curator selected through this open call will present their exhibition at the AHL Foundation Gallery in April 2027. The grant will be used to cover all aspects of the exhibition, from the initial planning stages through to its conclusion.

*The exhibition dates are subject to change.

About

The Chun Family Foundation Scholarship was established by businessman Chun Myung-guk in 2007 and has been awarding scholarships to Korean students annually. Chairman Chun is deeply committed to supporting the Korean community through volunteer work and educational initiatives. Established in 2017 with special support from the Chun Family Foundation Scholarship Committee, the AHL Foundation’s curatorial program aims to nurture and support curators specializing in contemporary Korean art during the early stages of their careers.

In 2023, the program was rebranded as “Curatorial OpenCall,” with a new focus on providing a platform for curators at all stages of their careers. This initiative supports the development and execution of a variety of exhibitions, thereby enhancing professional growth and fostering innovation in the field of Korean contemporary art and curatorial studies.

 

Key Dates

  • Application Period: April 1, 2026 (Wed) – May 31, 2026 (Sun)  (11:59 PM EDT)
  • Notification of Result: July 4, 2026 (Sat)

 

Eligibility & Requirements

  • Must be of Korean heritage.
  • Recipients must attend the AHL Foundation’s Awards Ceremony to receive the award on November 7, 2026 (Sat).
  • Must have authorized working status in the United States.
  • Due to the program’s requirements, preference will be given to New York residents.
  • Group exhibition proposals (featuring two or more artists) are preferred.

 

Proposal Guidelines

  • Curators may not include their own work in the exhibition.
  • Proposals for exhibitions that have already been shown will not be considered.
  • The budget plan should cover costs related to the curator, artists’ fees, honorariums (if applicable), opening reception, documentation (photography and video), installation, and shipping. 
  • Curators may include auxiliary programs as part of the exhibition programming.

 

Application Requirements

Please ensure you have all necessary materials ready before starting the online application, as progress cannot be saved mid-process. The following items will be required:

  • Resume / CV / Bio
  • Exhibition proposal outlining both the concept and plan for the exhibition (less than 500 words)
  • Expected impact of the exhibition
  • A completed budget plan (totaling $5,000)
  • Resumes and bios for participating artists
  • A proposed artist list with short bios for each artist
  • A PDF with 1-2 images per artist (maximum of 10 images; for media works, include URL links in a PDF format)

 

Awards

  • Exhibition at AHL Foundation in 2027
  • $5,000 stipend
  • PR support from AHL Foundation (press, social media, and newsletter promotion)

 

Please note that travel and other expenses for the award ceremony and exhibition are included within the prize money and will not be reimbursed separately.