Introduction

The Spuerkeess Foundation, under the aegis of the Fondation de Luxembourg, supports youth social inclusion, financial education, and the promotion of Luxembourg’s artistic heritage. Each year, the Spuerkeess Foundation supports projects with strong social and cultural impact, contributing to the visibility and professional development of the local artistic scene.

Within this framework, the Spuerkeess Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of applications for support for contemporary creation through a curatorial proposal for a stand at Luxembourg Art Week. This initiative aims to support curatorial research, experimentation, and the presentation of Luxembourg contemporary artistic practices within the context of an international art fair.

This support represents a unique opportunity for a Europe-based curator to imagine and realize an ambitious curatorial project combining conceptual rigor with the promotion of a bold and flourishing emerging scene that remains insufficiently visible. The initiative seeks to encourage committed curatorial approaches and support the emergence of future artistic talents. In doing so, the Spuerkeess Foundation contributes to the development of Luxembourg’s artistic ecosystem.

Project

The selected curator, who must be familiar with the Luxembourg art scene, will design a curatorial project for a stand at Luxembourg Art Week in November 2026 (18–22 November).

The objective is to highlight an emerging scene that is still relatively unknown and underrepresented by galleries. The stand, with a surface area of 30 to 50 m² depending on the project, will be presented within the Take Off section and submitted to the fair’s international selection committee for review.

There are no restrictions regarding the number of artists, medium, or artistic discipline; however, the selection must focus on artistic practices connected to the local scene or created by Luxembourgish artists and residents.

The curator’s responsibilities include:

• Developing the curatorial project
• Writing texts for communication purposes
• Contacting artists and selecting works from existing pieces
• Coordinating transportation
• Supervising the exhibition installation

The project should also allow participating artists to gain insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of a curatorial project and an art fair.

The curator commits to being present at the stand throughout the duration of the fair.

A fixed amount is allocated to the artists to help cover expenses incurred, notably travel costs and, where applicable, specific exhibition-related packaging requirements (frames, transport crates, screens, etc.).

This support does not constitute an artist fee nor a production grant, as the works selected by the curator must be chosen from existing works.

The Spuerkeess Foundation provides support amounting to €15,000 incl. VAT, divided as follows:

• Curator’s fee: €4,000 incl. VAT
• Total artist-related expenses: €6,000 incl. VAT
• Additional expenses (logistics, communication, etc.): €5,000 incl. VAT

This initiative encourages the creation of new curatorial narratives and exhibition formats intended for an international professional audience. Through this program, the Spuerkeess Foundation aims to strengthen the visibility of contemporary artistic practices while recognizing the intellectual and organizational investment of curators as an essential component of the cultural landscape.

Application

Who can apply?

The call for applications is open to anyone with significant curatorial practice, including several exhibition projects to their credit and a strong knowledge of the Luxembourg contemporary art scene.

There are no age, diploma, or minimum professional experience requirements.

How to apply?

Applicants are invited to submit a complete proposal for the stand they wish to curate at Luxembourg Art Week (LAW), including:

1. Curatorial concept (mandatory)

A clear and compelling presentation text (maximum 5,000 characters) outlining the overall theme or narrative of the stand, including the conceptual framework and its connection to contemporary artistic practices.

2. Preliminary selection of artists (mandatory)

For each proposed artist:

• CV
• Information regarding possible gallery representation

3. Selection of works and exhibition layout (optional)

4. Supporting documents (mandatory)

• Curriculum vitae
• Biography
• Portfolio and links to previous curatorial projects supporting your experience and vision

Application Process

Applicants must submit their complete application file before 31 May 2026.

All proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format to:

spuerkeessfoundation@fdlux.lu

The Jury

The selection process takes place in two stages:

1. An initial selection by the technical committee of the Spuerkeess Foundation
2. Submission of the shortlisted project(s) to the Luxembourg Art Week selection committee

Pre-selected applicants may be contacted for additional clarifications or an interview with the jury before the final decision is announced.

The final selection will be communicated to all applicants no later than early July 2026.