OVERVIEW

Please read before applying.

AAMC Foundation invites early-career curators of intersectional backgrounds with between 3-5 years in the art curatorial field to apply for PACC!

Applications are now open (deadline: June 26, 2026)

The Professional Alliance for Curators in Community (PACC) strengthens the professional trajectory of early-career curators who face barriers to advancement. Through a cohort-based model of ten Fellows combining structured learning and intentional community building, the 2026–27 PACC Program brings an expanded commitment to equity and belonging in the curatorial field with particular focus on intersecting matters of gender, class, race, geography, and accessibility. 

As a fully sponsored participatory program, PACC situates curatorial practice within a people-centered, care-based, early-career professional framework. The 10-month long programming includes a modest stipend, all travel/hotel including per diem as well as selective sessions with curatorial consultants combined with workshops in current museum practice, interdepartmental collaboration, learning from artists, and HR compliance training addressing workplace dynamics, bias, and organizational/business culture. Fellows join a community built on peer-to-peer cohort relationships, customized mentor pairings, AAMC Fellowship alumni engagement, and access to the AAMC Foundation's broader network of over 1,300 curators. The Fellowship Program is conducted in English and largely based out of New York.  Recruitment of Fellows is open to any self-defined early-career art curator, including independent curators and those working internationally. The Program is globally sensitive, acknowledging geopolitical realities in mobility for a field that experiences frequent movement and relocation due to employment needs. 

There is no cost to apply or to participate in the program. With respect to each Fellow, PACC award public announcements are planned.

PROGRAM SCOPE + EXPECTATIONS

With supervisor approval (if relevant recognizing independent curators) of the Fellowship (September 2026-May 2027),  participants are expected to prioritize this opportunity with the AAMC Foundation, encompassing all components and without other competing commitments. We ask that you reconsider re-applying if you cannot commit at this level due to personal or professional obligations. This is crucial to ensure the immersive experience of the entire cohort.

• The program consists of 8-10 full days of in-person professional development, in addition to 4-5 virtual half-day sessions as detailed below (10-12 days total):     
  • Fall 2026: A 2-3 day in-person residency, New York City (days/evenings);
  • Fall 2026 - Spring 2027: A mentor site visit (day/evening);
  • Winter/Spring 2027: 4-5 virtual intensive half-day sessions (2-3 hours during Eastern Time business hours, GMT-5);
  • Spring 2027: 3-4 days Workshop and 2027 Art Curators Conference attendance, New York City (days/evenings).

   

Please contact programs@artcurators.org if you would like to discuss your particular circumstances.

DEADLINE

Applications open May 30, 2026 and the final deadline for submitting an application is 5:00 PM ET on June 26, 2026. Please ensure you fill out all the required questions on the application, which are indicated with a red asterisk. An incomplete or late submission will result in the jurors not reviewing the application. There are no exceptions.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Self-identify as an early-career curator with an intersectional background with direct responsibility for working with artists and/or works of art.
• Have between 3–5 years of curatorial experience, including full-time fellowships and excluding internships.
• International applications are encouraged and welcomed, within the boundaries of all applicable U.S. laws. At this time, we cannot accept applications from nationals of countries subject to a comprehensive U.S. sanctions regime (currently Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and the Crimea region of Ukraine, as well as China and Russia). This list is subject to change with U.S. regulations.
• Must hold a valid passport and individually obtain any applicable visas required for travel to/from the U.S. (and mentor countries if needed); AAMC can assist with providing a letter of invitation/support for Fellows.

ONLINE APPLICATION NOTES:

All materials, including recommendations, are submitted online. Through this portal, one supervisor approval and one letter of recommendation (below) are sent directly to your reference(s) — please contact them early;

• Your current supervisor for approval of program participation
• A colleague who can speak to your group collegial capacity and curatorial performance

You may save and return your application anytime before the deadline.

The Professional Alliance for Curators in Community is made possible with support from Getty.