middlebrook prize for young canadian curators

Founded in 2012, the Middlebrook Prize for Young Canadian Curators is awarded annually to an emerging Canadian curator under 30, with the aim of fostering social innovation and curatorial excellence in Canada. Hosted and administered by the Art Gallery of Guelph, the winner is selected by a jury of arts leaders and receives a $5,000 honorarium as well as mentorship in the development of an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Guelph. This year’s jurors include Emma Hassencahl-Perley, Curator of Indigenous Art at the Beaverbook Art Gallery, Lillian O’Brien Davis, Associate Curator at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, and Sandy Saad-Smith, Curator at the Doris McCarthy Gallery.

Submissions are assessed based on the artistic quality and conceptual strength of the proposed exhibition. The successful applicant’s exhibition will be presented as part of the Art Gallery of Guelph’s Fall 2026 season. By supporting and mobilizing Canadian creative talent, the Middlebrook Prize aims to inspire positive social change through creativity during a time of ongoing and unprecedented economic, environmental, social, and cultural upheaval. Proposals should emphasize contemporary Canadian art with attention to audience, community, and social relevance.