Hafnarborg's Autumn Exhibition 2027 – proposals invited
As in previous years, curators have the opportunity to submit proposals for next year's autumn exhibition at Hafnarborg. The autumn exhibition series began in 2011 and to date, sixteen exhibitions have been selected from a large number of submissions by curators with diverse backgrounds and experience.
Submission deadline: midnight on 6 September.
As in previous years, curators have the opportunity to submit proposals for next year's autumn exhibition in Port city. The autumn exhibition series began in 2011 and to date, sixteen exhibitions have been selected from a large number of submissions by curators with diverse backgrounds and experience. The upcoming autumn exhibition at Hafnarborg, curated by Katrín Björg Gunnarsdóttir and Úlfur Bragi Einarsson, was selected in the same way from the proposals received last year, and the exhibition will open on 27 August.
An opportunity for collaboration and an important platform
The purpose of inviting submissions is to have the opportunity to select a curator or curatorial team for collaboration who presents an interesting exhibition proposal, as well as to provide a platform for emerging curators to present their ideas. Curators with a short career history are particularly encouraged to apply. Indeed, it has proven that there is every reason to maintain such a project, as it has resulted in diverse exhibitions that have attracted attention and had good attendance. Proposals are sought for group exhibitions where the theme, working method and/or other concepts connect the work of up to eight artists. However, exhibitions that involve an analysis of, or a specific perspective on, the work of a particular artist will also be considered. Both exhibitions of contemporary artists' work and exhibitions involving historical analysis are considered. The artistic advisory board of Hafnarborg then reviews the applications and selects the winning proposal in consultation with the director.
The deadline for submitting proposals is midnight on Sunday, 6th September.
Proposals are only accepted by email to the address hafnarborg@hafnarfjordur.is
Application process
The application process is in two parts, and applicants are kindly asked to familiarise themselves with the process by reviewing the points listed below.
Part 1
In the first round, the following information is requested:
- A description of the project, with an emphasis on the concept behind the exhibition (maximum 1000 words).
- Curator's CV(s).
- Short CVs of the artist or artists (up to eight in total), as well as others proposed to be part of the exhibition project.
A description as detailed as possible should be provided, within the specified word limit. It is also permissible to include visual material that is illustrative of the project with the proposal, although this was not required in the previous round. Applicants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the premises of Hafnarborg before submitting proposals. The Art Council of Hafnarborg, together with the Director, evaluates the submitted proposals and selects projects for further consideration in the second round.
Part 2
Curators whose proposals are selected for further consideration will be invited to present their ideas and submit supporting materials, such as exhibition catalogues, images or videos, in addition to preparing a realistic budget for the project. It is anticipated that the exhibition and its associated work will fit within the museum's budget; otherwise, ways will be sought to secure external support for the project.
When assessing the proposals, the following points will be considered:
- Selection of artists.
- Whether the exhibition presented an innovative perspective on visual art, for example in its content and/or media.
- Whether it's new or older works, or even a combination of the two.
- Whether the exhibition has a specific relevance to Hafnarborg, with regard to the local community, the environment, the museum's collection, history, etc.
- Whether the exhibition makes original use of the Hafnarborg exhibition space.
- Curator's career.
- Proposals for a programme in connection with the exhibition, such as guided tours, symposia, workshops, etc.
- Suggestions for a possible version.
- That the cost of the project is within a reasonable budget (a more detailed breakdown of costs will be carried out in a later stage of the process).
A basic plan of the halls of Hafnarborg can be found here. The drawings are intended as a guide for preparing proposals. It is not required that the exhibition proposal be designed precisely for the space at this stage.
All proposals should be sent to the email address hafnarborg@hafnarfjordur.is, marked „Autumn Exhibition 2027“. A confirmation of receipt will be sent subsequently, but applicants are advised to contact 585 5790 if this confirmation is not received. All applicants will then be informed whether or not their proposal has been successful. All results will be sent by email.
Further information is available from the Hafnarborg office on 585 5790.