So picture this. You’re an emerging Black curator in Canada, passionate about art, community, and reshaping how we tell stories through exhibitions. And then you stumble across a fellowship that’s literally designed for you — paid, mentored, hands-on, and rooted in some of the most respected art institutions in the country.
That’s exactly what the Curatorial Fellowship Program by OAG, NGC, and OBAK is. And right now, applications for the 2026–27 edition are open — but only until April 28, 2026. So let’s get into everything you need to know, fast.
What Even Is This Fellowship?
Let me break it down simply.
Three major Ottawa-based arts organizations have teamed up to create something genuinely meaningful:
- OAG — Ottawa Art Gallery
- NGC — National Gallery of Canada (founded 1880, home to 90,000+ works)
- OBAK — Ottawa Black Art Kollective
Together, they launched the Curatorial Fellowship Program back in 2021 as a collaboration between OAG and OBAK. Last year, the NGC joined in — and now this thing has serious national and international weight behind it.
The fellowship is a one-year, part-time, paid contract for an emerging curator who identifies as Black or of African descent and is based in (or willing to relocate to) the National Capital Region. It’s split into two phases, spans two institutions, and comes with mentorship, networking, and real, exhibition-building experience.
Honestly? It’s the kind of opportunity that changes careers.
Insert image of Ottawa Art Gallery exterior and NGC building here
The Two Phases — Here’s How It Works
One of the coolest things about this fellowship is how structured it is. You’re not just shadowing someone or sitting in on meetings. You’re doing the work.
Phase 1: Ottawa Art Gallery (May 11 – August 31, 2026)
This is where you roll up your sleeves. During Phase 1, you’ll:
- Develop and launch your own exhibition in OAG’s Annexe Gallery — with artists of your choosing
- Conduct studio visits, do your research, write about the work
- Collaborate with OAG staff across curatorial, installation, communications, and learning departments
- Organize an opening reception
- Build public communication skills through tours, speeches, and potentially media interviews
You get an assigned OAG curatorial lead to guide and supervise you throughout. Think of them as your mentor-in-chief for this phase.
Phase 2: National Gallery of Canada (September 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
Phase 2 is where things go deeper and broader. At the NGC, you’ll:
- Dive into collection research
- Write a 1,500-word curatorial essay about your OAG exhibition (with potential for online publication — yes, published)
- Co-develop a public-facing program with the Learning and Community Engagement department
- Work across NGC departments including Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization, and more
- Participate in local institutional visits and mentorship sessions
- Close out with a reflective debriefing to share your experience and help shape future editions of the program
The Money Stuff — What’s the Stipend?
Let’s talk numbers, because this matters.
The fellowship comes with a $16,000 total stipend, paid in two installments of $8,000 per phase. This covers 48 weeks of part-time work. You and your curatorial lead will work out how to distribute hours in a way that fits both the project needs and your personal capacity.
It’s not a full-time salary. But it’s a paid opportunity with real professional development value — and that’s not nothing, especially in a field where unpaid internships are still frustratingly common.
Full Benefits Breakdown
Here’s everything that comes with the fellowship:
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Stipend | $16,000 total ($8,000 per phase) |
| Duration | 48 weeks (part-time) |
| Mentorship | 1–2 outside professionals per phase |
| Exhibition Development | Real show at OAG’s Annexe Gallery |
| Collection Research | Access to NGC’s 90,000+ works |
| Curatorial Essay | 1,500-word essay, potential online publication |
| NGC Membership | Complimentary 1-year membership + reciprocal museum access |
| Networking | Curators, museum professionals, cross-institutional connections |
| Institutional Visits | Local Ottawa arts scene exposure |
Are You Eligible? Here’s the Checklist
Before you spend time on your application, let’s make sure you qualify. The fellowship is designed for someone who:
- ✅ Identifies as Black or of African descent in Canada, with lived experience shaped by that identity
- ✅ Has demonstrated participation in Black/African descent communities — arts programming, cultural initiatives, that kind of thing
- ✅ Lives in (or can move to) the National Capital Region for the duration of the fellowship
- ✅ Shows a demonstrated interest in curatorial practice, art history, museum studies, visual culture, or related fields
- ✅ Is an emerging professional with some experience in exhibition development, research, writing, community engagement, or arts administration
Notice that last point. Some experience. Not ten years. Not a PhD. This fellowship genuinely welcomes people at the earlier stages of their careers.
Skills They’re Looking For
You don’t need to tick every box here, but these are the competencies that will make your application shine:
- Post-secondary degree or diploma and/or relevant professional experience (art-adjacent fields are great, but other fields are welcome too with demonstrated arts interest)
- Strong time management and organizational skills
- Project management or event planning experience
- Computer proficiency — Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Bilingual in English and French is an asset (not required)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Insert image of curatorial exhibition setup / gallery installation here
How to Apply — The Step-by-Step
The application is refreshingly straightforward. Here’s exactly what you need to submit:
- Cover Letter / Letter of Intent (max 1 page) — Talk about why you want this fellowship and what your curatorial aspirations look like
- Short Exhibition Proposal (max 1 page) — Outline a theme for the exhibition you’d develop in Phase 1
- CV/Resume — Highlight relevant experience
- Two References — Contact information only (no letters needed at this stage)
Send everything to jobs@oaggao.ca, attention Rebecca Basciano, OAG Chief Curator.
📌 Deadline: April 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT
Make sure you reference the specific position in your subject line. And if you need any accommodations for the application or interview process, just mention it in your email — they’re actively committed to accessibility.
FAQs — The Questions You’re Probably Asking Right Now
Q: Do I need to already be in Ottawa to apply? You’ll need to reside in the National Capital Region during the fellowship — but the application doesn’t specify you need to be there at the time of applying. If you’re planning a move, it might be worth noting your intention in your cover letter.
Q: What if I don’t have a formal degree in art or curating? You’re still eligible. The program explicitly says candidates from other fields will be considered if they show demonstrated interest in the arts. Your experience, community involvement, and passion matter here.
Q: What does the selection committee look like? A committee of representatives from OAG, NGC, and OBAK reviews all submissions. That’s meaningful — OBAK’s presence ensures community accountability in who gets selected.
Q: Are there similar fellowships for Black curators in Canada? This is one of the most structured and well-resourced ones specifically for Black curators in the NCR. More broadly, you might explore the Canada Council for the Arts grants, the Sobey Art Award ecosystem, and various provincial arts council programs — but this one is uniquely collaborative and mentorship-focused.
Q: What happened with the first cohort? The program kicked off in 2021 between OAG and OBAK, and last year was the inaugural year with NGC’s involvement. While specific fellow profiles aren’t named in the official announcement, the program describes a “successful inaugural year” — and the fact that it’s expanding is a good sign.
Why This Fellowship Actually Matters
Let me zoom out for a second.
The art world, for all its beauty, has historically been pretty exclusionary. The gatekeepers of what gets shown, collected, and written about have not — until very recently — looked like much of the world they claim to represent. Fellowships like this one aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re genuinely structural interventions.
OBAK was founded specifically to increase the visibility and professional development of Black curators and visual artists in Ottawa. OAG is a cultural anchor that centers equity and anti-racism in its actual institutional mandate. And the NGC — one of the oldest and most prestigious art museums in the country — brings national reach and legitimacy that amplifies the whole thing.
When these three come together around an emerging Black curator for a full year, with a real stipend and real responsibilities, the message is clear: this work matters, and you matter in it.
Insert image of OBAK community event or Black Canadian art exhibition here
Tips for a Strong Application
Since the deadline is tight (April 28 is coming up fast), here’s what I’d focus on:
For your Cover Letter:
- Be specific about why the OAG-NGC-OBAK combination appeals to you
- Connect your community involvement to your curatorial vision
- Don’t undersell your experience — but don’t overclaim either
For your Exhibition Proposal:
- This is your chance to show your curatorial thinking, not just your taste
- Think about a theme that’s genuinely yours — something rooted in your perspective and community
- Keep it focused. One strong, clear concept beats a vague and ambitious one
For your CV:
- Include community work, volunteer roles, and informal arts involvement — these count
- If you’ve written anything (blog posts, catalogue notes, event descriptions), mention it
The Bottom Line
The 2026–27 Curatorial Fellowship by OAG, NGC, and OBAK is a rare, well-structured, community-rooted opportunity for emerging Black curators in Canada. It’s paid. It’s mentored. It results in a real exhibition and a published essay. And it connects you to some of the most important art institutions in the country.
If you’re even thinking about applying, that’s probably your gut telling you something. The deadline is April 28, 2026 — which means you have a matter of days to put your application together.
Don’t wait. Get your documents ready, write that proposal, and send it in.
The art world needs more perspectives like yours. This fellowship is one concrete way to make that happen.
Apply by: April 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT Send to: jobs@oaggao.ca (Attn: Rebecca Basciano, OAG Chief Curator) Fellowship starts: May 11, 2026 More info: Visit the OAG website for full eligibility and application details
Know someone who’d be perfect for this? Share this post with them — you might just change their career trajectory.