Adam Szymczyk Directs the Inaugural Curatorial Lab Lagos for November 2026

A New Laboratory for Curatorial Practice

The upcoming Lagos Biennial is set to launch its first dedicated Curatorial Lab, running concurrently with the autumn festival. Scheduled for November 16 through 18, 2026, the intensive gathering will be directed by Adam Szymczyk. Positioned directly following the opening festivities, the initiative functions as a rigorous testing ground for alternative exhibition methodologies. It seeks to dismantle conventional display frameworks while fostering innovative approaches rooted in African contexts and global perspectives. Although the concept initially surfaced during the 2019 iteration of the festival, this edition aligns specifically with the overarching biennial theme, The Museum of Things Unseen. Consequently, attendees are encouraged to interrogate established museological structures, question canonical hierarchies, and explore how curated spaces might operate as active sites of intellectual production rather than passive repositories.

Rather than offering prescriptive training, the curriculum centres on critical inquiry. Participants will examine whether gallery environments can generate fresh epistemologies instead of merely archiving past achievements. Through collaborative seminars, architectural tours, keynote addresses, and hands-on exercises, the cohort will probe how artistic strategies intersect with shifting institutional landscapes. The primary objective involves transforming curation into an instrument capable of rewriting archival records, disrupting hegemonic storytelling, and cultivating unprecedented modes of visual culture. This pedagogical shift reflects a broader industry movement away from static presentation toward dynamic research, positioning the exhibition space itself as a generative mechanism.

Eligibility and Administrative Details

This opportunity targets professionals operating at early or intermediate stages of their careers, specifically those between twenty and thirty-five years of age. Applications remain open to practitioners residing anywhere globally. Selected individuals will receive comprehensive financial support covering round-trip airfare to Nigeria, all ground transit arrangements, and full access to the scheduled activities. Candidates must independently manage hotel expenses, travel documentation fees, and daily living costs. By absorbing travel logistics, the organisers significantly reduce barriers for emerging voices who might otherwise struggle with the economic demands of international attendance. To submit an expression of interest, applicants should forward a single-page statement outlining their professional objectives alongside an updated curriculum vitae to the designated email address. The submission window closes on September 15, 2026. Successful candidates will receive notification exactly one week later, with twelve participants ultimately chosen to join the cohort.

Institutional Context and Leadership

Guiding this inaugural session is a highly influential figure whose career has consistently challenged traditional museum paradigms. Born in Poland during 1970, Szymczyk currently divides his time between Zurich and Basel, where he directs the Swiss Architecture Museum. His previous tenures include leading Kunsthalle Basel for over a decade and steering documenta 14 across two European capitals during the mid-2010s. He also helped shape the fifth Berlin Biennale alongside Elena Filipovic. Since establishing Verein by Association in 2022, his practice has emphasised non-hierarchical structures and cross-disciplinary dialogue. His recent projects span major international venues, ranging from LUMA Arles to the Stedelijk Museum, often prioritising experimental formats over conventional retrospectives. Academic appointments at universities across Switzerland and Austria have further cemented his reputation as a theorist who bridges practical exhibition design with critical pedagogy. By placing such a seasoned practitioner at the helm of this Nigerian-based forum, the festival signals a deliberate commitment to elevating regional voices while maintaining rigorous international standards.