2025 OPEN CALL FOR CURATORS

The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) invites independent curators to submit their proposals for the next Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos FY2025 Exhibition Season (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025). This season's theme is: The World We Want To Live In.

BCA hopes to support and amplify diverse voices and narratives that demonstrate a commitment to social justice.

ABOUT THE LONGWOOD ART GALLERY @ HOSTOS

The Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos is part of The Longwood Arts Project, BCA’s flagship program. Founded in 1981, it was one of the first alternative gallery spaces in The Bronx and to this day it maintains its pioneering focus on artists whose traditions and cultural practices are underrepresented by mainstream venues. The gallery derives its name from its original location at PS39 on Longwood Avenue. In 2003, the gallery relocated to the campus of Hostos Community College. 

The Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos predominantly showcases artists of color, women and LGBTQ+ artists. Its exhibitions explore Bronx history, intersectional Bronx cultures, and social justice issues facing our communities. The gallery also offers programs for youth and adults that encourage dialogue and explore exhibition themes in greater depth.

ABOUT THE BRONX COUNCIL ON THE ARTS (BCA)

Founded by visionary community leaders in 1962, The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) is a pioneer in advancing cultural equity in The Bronx. From our early beginnings as a presenter of affordable arts programming in select Bronx neighborhoods, we have grown into a cultural hub that serves the entire creative ecosystem of the borough. Our programs serve artists, the public, and the field at large by building connections, providing resources, and advocating for equitable practices. Then as now, we focus on supporting the work of underrepresented groups – especially artists of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Through this lens we offer affordable programs for seniors and youth and provide direct services to over 1,500 artists and 250 community-based arts groups each year. For more information, please visit www.bronxarts.org.

2025 OPEN CALL: The World We Want To Live In

Art has the power to inspire, provoke, transform, and heal. Curators and artists play a crucial role in social and political movements, expressing their views on the world around them. In today’s visual age, they can be a powerful force for change. Curators work creatively by illuminating social issues, catalyzing public discourse, and bringing new audiences into activism.

For the FY2025 Exhibition Season, BCA seeks projects and artworks that focus on a range of social justice issues, including racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, food justice, body justice, and mental health, among others. 

Curators are invited to submit their proposals through Submittable. The submission may include artworks of all disciplines, including, but not limited to, installations, technology art, performances, poetry, video art, sound pieces, objects, sculptures, and paintings.

The FY2025 Open Call will include three exhibitions. One is open exclusively to independent artists, while the other two are open for curators. Make sure to carefully review the guidelines for your preferred category before submitting your application. For the Artists Open call, please click here. Curators/artists may apply to both categories but will be selected only in one of them. Individual artists selected in the Artists Open Call may not participate in the Curators Open Call.

SELECTION PROCESS:

The Submission deadline is Friday, December 29, 2023. The application is open to curators residing in NYC. Proposals with fifty percent of the artists living in The Bronx, are preferred. Notification of selection will be sent by Friday, January 12, 2024.

Finalists will be contacted for a virtual or in-person interview before selections are announced. Applications will only be accepted through Submittable. All applications will be kept in our files for future reference. For questions or technical inquiries, please contact longwood@bronxarts.org.

*No phone calls inquiring about the status of your submission, please.