Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) is currently seeking curatorial proposals for guest curated contemporary visual art exhibitions in 2026 and 2027. Proposals are due by 11:59pm on August 15, 2025 AGCC is requesting exhibition proposals with unique curatorial perspectives and approaches that are interested in investigating contemporary culture through a diverse array of artistic practices, aesthetic sensibilities, experimentation, and innovation.
Curatorial themes AGCC is interested in presenting:
- Contemporary themes that address urgent issues of our present day society, local or global
- Curatorial themes that attempt to generate radical empathy and understanding for historically marginalized groups and/or cultures
- Proposals that demonstrate a strong understanding of how AGCC’s location adjacent to the Port of LA and diverse communities of San Pedro relate to, and are a part of, Los Angeles
- Experimental explorations that push beyond traditional use of media, blur the line between artist and audience, or intersect with other disciplines of knowledge and creativity
- Proposals that are intersectional of the concepts above.
We are seeking:
- Exhibition proposals from independent curators — emerging, midcareer, or established
- Proposals that are conceptually rigorous and focus on artists, projects, and themes that are innovative, challenging, relevant, and engaging
- Group exhibitions of 3–9 artists
- Ideas or topics that are not well-represented in the commercial sector
- Exhibitions that have not had the opportunity to be previously shown in the Los Angeles area
- Proposals that are in conversation with the current discourse in contemporary art
- Proposals that are aligned with the mission of AGCC as a nonprofit, community-service-oriented cultural center
- Proposals that include local and greater Los Angeles area-based artists
- Extra consideration will be given to proposals that demonstrate understanding of AGCC and engage the communities in which we exist
Guidelines:
- Curators will be responsible for the curation of artists, and must be present onsite for part of the installation, opening reception, programming, and deinstallation of the exhibition
- Programming: To serve the AGCC community, exhibitions must include a programming component (e.g., artist talk, art performance, screening)
- Applications may be submitted by an individual, curatorial team, or organization/art space, but curators must have residency in the United States
- Curators with artistic practices may include their own artwork in a group exhibition, but must make a strong case for its inclusion within a compelling curatorial theme
- No solo shows submitted by the artist will be accepted. AGCC generally does not produce solo exhibitions, with rare exceptions
- Applicants may submit more than one proposal
- Visual representations of the concept, themes, artists, or works to be shown are required in the application
- Preference will be given to exhibitions that have not been previously shown, lack resources, and demonstrate need for AGCC’s support — this need should be explained in the Curatorial Narrative
- Proposed artworks cannot be selected via a fee-based call for art or juried submission
- A shipping and transportation budget is currently not available — local works are highly encouraged. A shipping budget may become available if an exhibition-specific grant is received
- Proposals may be submitted at any time, but only those received by the open call deadline will be prioritized for the 2026–2027 exhibitions calendar
- Applicants must follow all submission requirements in the Application Checklist, including maximum description lengths, or risk disqualification