Announcing the Shoebox Curators Lab: Where Artists Learn to Curate Professional Exhibitions

A 16-week intensive program teaching artists to create compelling exhibition proposals and develop professional curatorial skills

Aug 28, 2025

Who This Program Is Perfect For

Artists proposing exhibitions to museums and colleges - Learn the professional language, processes, and presentation skills that make proposals stand out to institutional decision-makers.

Artists who want to curate exhibitions - Whether for galleries, alternative spaces, or pop-ups, get the comprehensive skills to move from idea to opening night.

Artists seeking step-by-step exhibition knowledge - Understand every phase: concept development, artist selection, space planning, installation, marketing, opening events, and documentation.

Artists wanting to create opportunities for themselves and others - Build the skills to organize group shows, start artist collectives, or launch independent curatorial projects.

Recent MFA graduates exploring career expansion - Add curatorial credentials to your artistic practice and open new professional pathways.

Artists interested in gallery partnerships - Understanding curatorial processes makes you a more valuable collaborator and helps you pitch exhibitions more effectively.

Artists wanting to diversify income streams - Curatorial skills can lead to consulting work, exhibition fees, and ongoing professional relationships.

Artists passionate about art history and cultural dialogue - Channel your knowledge and perspective into creating meaningful exhibitions that advance important conversations.

Artists frustrated with how their work has been presented - Learn to advocate for better presentation and create the exhibition experiences you wish existed.

Artists who love connecting and supporting other artists - Develop the professional tools to champion work you believe in and build community through exhibitions.

The Questions That Started Everything

I was talking with artists the other day about curating. The conversation kept circling back to the same questions: What does it actually entail? Are there rules? Is now the perfect time to curate when the political climate and art market are all over the place? Is curating the best way to create new opportunities while networking? Where do I even start?

Those questions wouldn't leave me alone.

You know me—I don't sit on ideas. When something gets me excited, I don't want to wait. I run with it. So I put together an artist-as-curator professional development program.

Let's do this.

Introducing the Shoebox Curators Lab

16 weeks of intensive curatorial training specifically designed for artists who are ready to step behind the gallery wall and shape how art gets seen.

This isn't another theory-heavy program. Teams develop real exhibition proposals, and the winning concept becomes an actual exhibition at our Brewery space. You walk away with either a professional curatorial credit or a portfolio-quality proposal ready to send out.

Why Artists Make the Best Curators

Because you already know what galleries don't tell you:

How it feels to have your work hung too high or in terrible lighting
What artists actually need (not what institutions think they need)
The difference between someone who "gets it" and someone just checking boxes
How to spot authentic vision versus trendy concepts
What it's like to be vulnerable in a white cube space

You've been on the other side of the gallery wall. You understand the stakes.

While traditional curators study art history, you've lived art history. You know what makes a piece sing in a space because you've watched your own work come alive (or die) under different conditions.

The Perfect Time to Learn Curatorial Skills

The art world is shifting. Galleries are closing, new spaces are opening, and the old gatekeepers are being challenged. Independent curators are having more influence than ever. Pop-up exhibitions, artist-run spaces, and alternative venues are where the most interesting conversations are happening.

This is exactly when artists need curatorial skills—not just to create opportunities for ourselves, but to champion the work that matters and build the art world we actually want to see.

What Makes This Program Different

Real Stakes: The winning team curates an actual exhibition at Shoebox Arts Project at the Brewery in Los Angeles. No fake portfolios or imaginary shows.

Artist-Focused: Every lesson acknowledges what you already know as a maker while building new skills in concept development, artist research, exhibition design, professional practices, and documentation.

Competitive Learning: Working in teams of 3-4, you'll develop comprehensive exhibition proposals. The competition element mirrors real-world curatorial processes while pushing everyone to do their best work.

Professional Network: Industry professionals serve on our selection panel. Alumni network access continues beyond the program.

Investment in Your Practice

$600 for 48 hours of intensive curatorial education, plus networking, plus potential exhibition opportunity is an investment in expanding your practice and creating new revenue streams. Think of it as professional development that could open doors to gallery partnerships, museum opportunities, and independent curatorial projects.

What You'll Actually Learn

Weeks 1-8: Foundation

Curatorial concept development and thematic thinking
Artist discovery and relationship building
Exhibition design and spatial planning
Professional practices, contracts, and budgets
Writing and documentation skills

Weeks 9-14: Real World Application

Team formation and proposal development
Artist selection and relationship management
Installation planning and logistics
Marketing and community engagement strategies

Weeks 15-16: Professional Presentation

Competitive pitches to industry panel
Winner preparation and exhibition planning