Opportunities

PQ’27 Call for Curator(s)

An Invitation to Lead on the World Stage

The Associated Designers of Canada (ADC) and the University of Alberta (UofA), on behalf of the Czech Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of Canada, are pleased to open the Call for Curator for one of Canada’s official National exhibitions at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ) 2027.

This international exhibition is the world’s foremost celebration of scenography, attracting over 100 participating countries and regions. Canada has a proud history of innovation and artistic excellence at PQ, and we invite proposals that will build on that legacy.

This Year’s Theme: Absences & Silences

We invite curators to respond to the PQ 2027 curatorial framework with ambition, depth, and imagination. Engage with PQ’s questions: what we may have missed? What have we overlooked? What has been absent, unseen, or unheard? These questions matter not only because they lead us into the past, but also because they prepare the ground for the future. Crucially, absences and silences can create opportunities to imagine what is still emerging or yet to emerge.  

This is a unique opportunity to:

  • Represent Canada in an international context of cultural exchange and creative diplomacy
  • Lead a nation-wide collaboration with artists, institutions, and the public
  • Innovate at the intersection of design, performance, identity, and global dialogue

What to Submit

Expressions of interest must include the following, assembled in a single PDF (maximum 5 letter-size pages, not including CV or portfolio materials):

  1. *Artistic Vision (1 page / ~500 words)
    A clear and compelling curatorial concept responding to Absences & Silences  that supports the Associated Designer’s of Canada’s Mission & Objectives.
  2. Project Delivery Plan (1 page / ~500 words)
    Including methodology, partnerships, production considerations, and public engagement strategies. Clearly outline  how artists and their work will be selected in your framework and how you may interface with the University of Alberta as a producing sponsor. How might the curatorial vision be achieved across a variety of budget shapes and diverse  funding strategies.
  3. Sustainability Considerations
    Include an approach to minimizing environmental impact, in alignment with ADC’s Green Committee values.
  4. Biographies & Team
    Bios of curator(s) and key team members; portfolio of relevant work

*(Optionally) A short video (max. 5 minutes) introducing yourself and concept.

Who Can Apply

We welcome submissions from scenographers, producers, directors, designers, gallery curators, and other qualified practitioners with experience in performance design or curatorial leadership. Applicants must:

  • Be legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Hold a valid passport to travel between Canada and Czech Republic
  • Demonstrate the capacity to deliver a project of national and international scale
  • Show evidence of national engagement and outreach across Canada’s diverse performance design communities

Applicants DO NOT need to be a member of the Associated Designers of Canada; they will be required to engage with the ADC membership in some capacities. 

How to Submit

Send your application package through our application portal by NOON PST on September 30, 2025

Application Portal

Should you have any concerns, or access needs in applying, reach out Jo Pagnan at pq@designers.ca to open a dialogue.

Selection Process

A national jury of arts professionals and stakeholders will review proposals based on a rubric (to be published August 30, 2025). Top-ranked applicants will be invited for in-video interviews with the PQ Committee in early November.

Final curator selection will be announced no later than November 30, 2025.

Compensation

A fee is currently before the board for approval to be announced late September. Additional compensation may come as a percentage of fundraising targets or fixed amounts, to be negotiated in good faith between ADC and the curator(s)when the final budget is established.   

Key Dates

Open Call for Curator Opens Aug 15, 2025
Curator Webinar Q&A Aug 21, 2025
Open Call for Curator is Closed Sept 30, 2025
Matrix Rubrics Completed by Jury  (no later than) Oct 21, 2025
Interviews with PQ Committee (Short List) Early Nov, 2025
National Curator Announcement Nov 30, 2025

Proposed production calendar can be viewed here.

General Details of the Prague Quadrennial can be viewed here. 

Frequently Asked Questions can be viewed here.