Creator Royalties #042: 3 Art Curation Trends to Watch in 2024

November 28, 2023

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🤗 This week's edition of Creator Royalties covers the latest trends in art curation that we are paying attention to, especially as we head into 2024.

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3 Art Curation Trends to Watch in 2024

As the digital landscape continues to shape the way we consume and interact with art, the role of curation is undergoing a profound transformation. In fact, we believe that the future of curation for both physical and digital art holds exciting possibilities, with accessibility and technology playing a greater role.

Here are 3 art curation trends we are paying attention to in 2024, and more importantly, how you can benefit from this evolution and increase your chances of your work getting seen around the world.

Let’s dive in.

#1: Inclusive curation for diverse voices

By eliminating printing & shipping costs and barriers to access, digital art has amplified diverse voices and narratives that are underrepresented in traditional art spaces.

We believe that curation in the future will continue to prioritize inclusivity, aiming to showcase a rich tapestry of perspectives and cultures.

💡 Our Tip - As an artist, it will be important to continually emphasize your identity in your work, in addition to highlighting your own diverse viewpoints.

Want to get started now? Apply for our Art Basel Miami Open Call.

We are teaming up with artists Elena Fiorenza Gatti and H Cruz to curate folklore-themed art, which will travel through the different neighborhoods and events around Art Basel Miami on December 8.

#2: Decentralized curation to encourage community involvement

As we have seen over the past three years, NFTs have disrupted the traditional art market by providing a decentralized and secure way to authenticate and own digital art on the blockchain.

But, beyond that, major institutions have also began to explore more decentralized ways to curate art in order to increase accessibility by more directly involving their community.

The Shed in New York City

For instance, The Shed in New York City recently launched Open Call as a way to nurture and increase opportunities for local, early-career artists to make new artworks.

Building on decentralized curation, Open Call reflects the collective effort of more than 60 external art professionals and community members who reviewed over 1200 applicants in the selection process.

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What surprised me the most is that even though it is truly an open call with no curatorial theme, you can see the way that histories intersect, resulting in an emerging narrative of works chosen by New York City, and what the people are thinking about in art.

It’s a new framework for me to think about in the rest of my career about the power of shared vision, shared imaginations, and decentralized curation.

Deja Brown, co-curator of The Shed Open Call

💡 Our Tip - Start by exploring opportunities that are available in your own local community. For a more in depth grant resource guide, check out Residency Unlimited.

#3: Immersive curation experiences through interactive digital spaces

The evolution of art curation is also marked by the creation of interactive works that transcend traditional gallery formats. These curated projects offer viewers unique opportunities for exploration, engagement, and a more personalized experience.

Recently, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) launched Postcard, as a global community art project representing collective creativity on blockchain. Initially featuring a select group of artists, now anyone can participate and collaborate in designing their very own Postcard, while also learning about and experimenting with blockchain technology.

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The goal with MoMA Postcard was to create an accessible project for anyone to participate.

The hope is that it can provide a bridge for people to explore blockchain in an exciting way at the intersection of art and technology.

Madeleine Pierpont, Web3 at Museum of Modern Art

💡 Madeleine’s Tip - Step out of your comfort zone, and meet people. Innovative technologies have some of the most brilliant minds I have ever had the privilege of knowing. By immersing yourself in something new like blockchain technology, you demonstrate bravery and innovativeness.

Want to immerse yourself in new technologies? Register for our Innovation Lab with Stability AI, where HUG provides art innovation and marketing support, alongside expert technical guidance from Stability AI & their pioneering suite of AI tools.

Use EARLYBIRD to enjoy early bird pricing before Dec 1.

Closing thoughts

The future of art curation is one that is dynamic and inclusive, allowing technology and creativity to more seamlessly converge. As we navigate this evolving landscape, it is clear that curators will be instrumental in fostering a vibrant, diverse, and accessible art community.

Want to get your art in front of a community of art curators? Start by submitting your work for any one of our Open Calls. If you want to maximize your chances of getting selected, don’t forget to check out our 5 Tips for Maximizing Your Open Call Chances. Good luck!

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Artist Grants & Opportunities

📣 Open Calls have arrived on HUG! Visit thehug.xyz to discover your next Open Call opportunity, from grants to gallery showcases, and more.

HUG-exclusive

  • 🌴 Take your work around Art Basel Miami We are seeking folklore-themed art to showcase all around the different neighborhoods of Art Basel Miami. Learn more and submit here.

  • ❄️ Calling winter-themed artwork for display at Dream Hotel in NYC Your work is wanted in the Big Apple for the holiday season! Showcase your winter-inspired work to thousands. Learn more and submit here.

  • 🌱 Seeking nature-inspired artwork to showcase in Lisbon, Portugal! We are looking for 50 artists to display in an exhibition that is inspired by the fusion of nature and technology at Estufa Fria's Botanical Gardens in Lisbon. Learn more and submit here.

  • 💰 HUG is offering $500 USD grants to two artists each month in exchange for unminted artwork to raffle off to our community. Learn more and meet all our HUG Visionaries here.

Other Open Calls

  • HUG Artist Rebecca Rose has curated a list of opportunities to take your work to Art Basel Miami, and beyond. Learn more here.

  • Be a Genesis artist for Virtruveo, a new blockchain for artists, and win a chance to get your art showcased in Times Square. Learn more here.

This Week’s Art Drops

🤗 Have an upcoming art drop you’d like to share? Or an upcoming exhibition or opportunity for your fellow artists? Make use of our Artist Updates feature on HUG, or email [email protected], so we can share it with our 8K+ readers.

Did you know that these are just 8 of hundreds of art drops on HUG? Get a full list of this week’s art drops from HUG here.

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