421 Arts Campus: Open Call for Exhibition Proposals

Location
Gallery 2, 421 Arts Campus, Abu Dhabi

Open to
Curators and curatorial collectives. Open to local and international applicants with an interest in contemporary artistic practices in the UAE and broader Arabic-speaking geographies.

Application Fee
None

What’s Provided

  • A competitive curatorial fee (to be shared in the case of a collective)

  • Full production support, including fabrication, shipping, and installation

  • Research and development support with 421’s curatorial and programs teams

  • Opportunities for studio visits and introductions to UAE-based artists

  • All promotional and interpretative material support by 421

  • Exhibition in Winter/Spring 2027 at Gallery 2

What the artist/applicant must cover
Not specified (421 covers major production, shipping, and promotion costs)

Duration
Development phase followed by the exhibition opening in January 2027

Deadline
Monday, October 20, 2025 at 11:30 PM GST

Additional Notes

  • Initial proposals should be grounded curatorial concepts, not finalized exhibitions

  • Final exhibition must include 50% UAE-based artists (421 will assist in identifying collaborators)

  • Major architectural alterations to the gallery space are discouraged

  • All applicants must review the Exhibition Making Process at 421 Arts Campus document

Submissions must be completed via Submittable.

For technical support with Submittable, please visit their Help page.