New Curating 2026 provides an opportunity for an emerging curator to develop a new exhibition in CCA & Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive, with mentoring and technical support from CCA Director Catherine Hemelryk and Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive Curator Sinéad Bhreathnach-Cashell.
CALL FOR CURATORS
This Open Call is seeking applications from early-career curators interested in developing an exhibition inspired by Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archives.
The opportunity includes a curatorial research residency working remotely with the Digital Film Archive in spring/summer 2025 and budget to produce the exhibition in January–March 2026.
The project budget can support up to three artists presenting new and existing work. Two artists will have the opportunity to participate in supported research residencies with the Digital Film Archive and additional mentoring from Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive Curator Sinéad Bhreathnach-Cashell. At least one of the artists must be from/in the north of Ireland.
New film work will be screened at both CCA and available online through the Digital Film Archive.
Timeline:
- 30 January 2025 – Open Call launches
- 25 February 2025 – Open Call closes
- 18 March 2025 – Curator selected
- April–June 2025 – Curatorial residency period with Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive, initial meetings with CCA & Northern Ireland Screen
- May–September 2025 – Artist residencies
- January 2026 – install and launch exhibition
- March 2026 – exhibition closes
About CCA Derry~Londonderry
CCA Derry~Londonderry is the leading art space dedicated to supporting emerging visual artists for artists from Northern Ireland and their international peers. CCA is located within the historic city walls of Derry~Londonderry, the second city of Northern Ireland that sits on the border with the Republic of Ireland. CCA is artist-centred with recent exhibitions featuring artists such as Susan Hughes, Michael Hanna, Bojana Janković, Laura Wilson, Alberta Whittle, Grace McMurray, Anne McCloy and Femi Dawkins, Sally O’Dowd, Larry Achiampong, David Blandy, Kwok Tsui and many more. CCA is a member of the Plus Tate Network. You can read more about CCA at CCADLD.org.
About Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive
The Digital Film Archive (DFA) is a flagship Northern Ireland Screen resource, created to ensure broad access to the region’s rich moving image heritage. Spanning over a century, from 1897 to the present day, the DFA (www.digitalfilmarchive.net) is an online treasure trove that chronicles Northern Ireland’s cultural, social, and historical journey. It also features material documenting pre-Partition Ireland, offering valuable insights for audiences across the UK and Ireland, and internationally. With almost 6,000 items freely accessible, the DFA encompasses a wide range of genres, formats, and themes. From rare silent films to contemporary documentaries, from newsreels to home movies, the archive provides a window into some of the lives, stories, and events that have shaped Northern Ireland.
The research residency will include: An introduction to the content of the archives; time to explore/research the online archive; guidance on the restrictions of using archive material in your project; discussions with the curator about your interests and practice. This can all take place online.
Call out for curators
Participating curators will receive:
- mentoring and support from CCA and Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive
- access to Derry~Londonderry and Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive networks and resources
- exhibition January–March 2026 at CCA Derry~Londonderry
- stipend of £1000 plus travel and modest materials support
- project budget including 3 x artist fees and production costs.
*if you are not based in Northern Ireland please note our travel budget is calculated for travel within Northern Ireland.
To apply
Head to ccadld.org/call-for-curators for more information and to apply.
Centre for Contemporary Art Derry~Londonderry, 10-12 Artillery Street, Derry-Londonderry BT486RG
+44 (0)28 713 73538
ccadld.org
