Season 12: New Sitka Partnership and Call for Applications for 2026-2027

Oregon Contemporary is pleased to announce an expansion of its Curator in Residence (CIR) program through a new partnership with the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. Since its founding in 2011, the CIR program has been a vital catalyst for curatorial innovation, supporting mid-career voices in the field in developing ambitious projects that culminate in major exhibitions at Oregon Contemporary. With the addition of Sitka’s residency component, curators will engage in dedicated research, writing, and reflection within an unparalleled interdisciplinary setting in Otis, OR. This immersive period will allow curators to develop deeper connections to place while expanding the intellectual scope of their projects.

The enhanced initiative underscores Oregon Contemporary’s commitment to supporting bold, experimental curatorial work. Together, this partnership increases artistic and community engagement statewide and ensures that the program continues to serve as a nationally recognized model for advancing contemporary curatorial practice and elevating Oregon’s role within the global arts community.

Past Curators in Residence have included homeschool, Lucy Cotter, Justin Hoover, Suzy Halajian, Julia Greenway, Michele Fiedler, Chiara Giovando, Rachel Adams, Summer Guthery, Josephine Zarkovich, and Jenene Nagy. Collectively, they have shaped the CIR program into an essential platform that connects Oregon’s arts community to broader contemporary discourse while fostering risk-taking exhibitions that resonate locally and beyond.

For the 2025-26 Season Sitka Center for Art and Ecology is hosting curators Lucy Cotter and T.K. Smith in partnership with Oregon Contemporary. 

Call for Proposals
Oregon Contemporary invites proposals for its Curator in Residence (CIR) program for the 2026–27 exhibition season. 

The CIR program offers a unique opportunity for mid-career curators to deepen their practice through a research residency that culminates in a major group exhibition in FY2027. Designed for curators with an established body of work, the program supports rigorous research, interdisciplinary exchange, and engagement with contemporary discourse, with a special emphasis on Oregon’s artistic landscape.

The next Curator In Residence will be announced in winter of 2025. The curator will visit Portland in late spring of 2026 and be in residence for up to a month at Sitka in fall of 2026 as they prepare for a 2027 exhibition at Oregon Contemporary. The exhibition curatorial honorarium is $8000 with an additional stipend of $500 per week available during the Sitka residency.

Full details and application can be found here. Applications due on October 12, 2025.