rough gems: call for curatorial proposals
From September 8 through October 27, 2025, artists, cultural producers, and aspiring curators are invited to submit proposals for original exhibitions that push boundaries, spark conversation, and reflect the vibrancy of the Denver Metropolitan community.
Rough Gems is an annual collaborative curatorial training program that showcases the work of three Denver-area curators or curatorial teams. Now in its seventh year, each team receives financial support, mentorship, and access to Union Hall’s space, budget, and resources in order to create a six-week exhibition, alongside community-facing programming and public engagement opportunities.
Exhibition Timelines
On the application, teams will rank their exhibition time slot preference from first to third choice. The Union Hall team will take preferences into consideration, and ultimately make the final decision. The six-week time slots are as follows:
Exhibition 1
Thursday, March 5 - Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Install: 2/26/26 - 3/4/26
- Opening night: 3/5/26
- Closing day: 4/18/26 at 6pm
- Deinstall: 4/19/26 - 4/22/26
Exhibition 2
Thursday, June 25 - Saturday, August 8, 2026
- Install: 6/18/26 - 6/24/26
- Opening night: 6/25/26
- Closing day: 8/8/26 at 6pm
- Deinstall: 8/9/26 - 8/12/26
Exhibition 3
Thursday, August 20 - Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Install: 8/13/26 - 8/20/26
- Opening night: 8/20/26
- Closing day: 10/3/26 at 6pm
- Deinstall: 10/4/26 - 10/7/26