Rencontres d'Arles 2027 Curatorial Research Fellowship

The Rencontres d'Arles Curatorial Research Fellowship supports exhibition curators who want to develop an original project about photography or the image. Run by Les Rencontres d'Arles, the photography festival held every summer in Arles in the south of France, and supported by Jean-François Dubos, it offers up to €20,000. The project runs in two phases, research and then production, and an approved exhibition can be presented at the festival. Applications are free and close on 30 November 2026.

The winning project is announced at the end of February 2027.

How the Fellowship Works

Phase 1, research: the selected curator receives €5,000 for expenses and royalties and has six months to research the exhibition. At the end, they submit a proposal to the festival's artistic direction, including an artistic statement, a selection of works, details of display and reproduction rights, a budget and a schedule.

Phase 2, production: if the festival approves the project, it moves into production with a €15,000 budget managed by the Rencontres d'Arles. This covers loans and transport of works to Arles, production of prints, framing and other elements, and the curator's and artists' travel and accommodation for the opening week. The festival also pays for exhibition design, communication, installation and security.

Who Can Apply for the Curatorial Research Fellowship?

All exhibition curators, working alone, as co-curators or as a collective, with an original project related to photography or the image.

What to Submit

Apply online with a single PDF of no more than 10 MB, containing in order:

• A description of the exhibition project, up to 5,000 characters
• A list of works and artists considered, ideally with images
• A provisional research budget (€5,000) and research timetable
• A provisional production budget (€15,000)
• A biography of the curator or curators, with education, contact details and past projects with descriptions and images

Texts must be in French or English, and ideally both.

If the Project Is Not Approved

If the research is not approved for production, the curator is free to stage the exhibition with another partner, but must credit the research support from the Rencontres d'Arles 2027 curatorial research grant.

The Curator's Role

If the exhibition goes ahead, the curator selects the works and secures display and reproduction rights, writes an introductory text and attends the festival's opening week, including guided tours.

Tips for Applying

Make the idea clear in the first paragraph, and show why it suits Arles. Include strong images of the works you intend to show, and keep both budgets realistic. A well-documented track record of past exhibitions helps.

Who This Suits

The fellowship suits independent curators, museum curators with a personal research project, and curatorial collectives who want time and money to develop an idea properly before staging it. It is especially useful for projects that need archival research, travel or conversations with artists before an exhibition can take shape. Because the production budget is fixed, plan an exhibition that can be realised well with €15,000, alongside the festival's own support.

Before You Submit

Check that the PDF is under 10 MB and in the right order before you upload it.

Things to Consider

• Free to apply.
• Two phases; production needs approval.
• French or English.
• Deadline: 30 November 2026.

Apply for the Fellowship

Have an exhibition idea for Arles?

Apply for the Curatorial Research Fellowship

The full call and application form are on the Rencontres d'Arles website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: November 4, 2026