OPEN CALL – Co-curator Thinking Hands / PLAY (2026–2027)
vacancy
Noorderlicht is looking for a co-curator (freelance) for our pre-biennial Thinking Hands (2026) and the biennial PLAY (2027) within our four-year cycle PLAY (2025–2028) (F/M/X).
OPEN CALL
Photography and photographic ways of looking are at the heart of Noorderlicht. We work with lensbased media in the broadest sense: from photography and film to algorithmic and digital imagemaking. Knowledge of, and enthusiasm for this field are therefore essential for this role.
Thinking Hands (September 2026) focuses on craft and embodied knowledge as a counterweight to automation and digital systems. Together with PLAY (2027), this edition forms a two-year trajectory in which we explore how making, technology and play influence one another.
As co-curator you work on a freelance basis in close collaboration with director Roosje Klap and the Noorderlicht team. You contribute to the selection and layout of artists and image-makers, maintain contact regarding the loan of artworks, and help shape the public program. You also contribute to talks, texts and presentations in the Netherlands and abroad, as well as press moments.
The collaboration is set up as a project from March 2026 to October 2027, on a freelance basis, for a to-be-determined number of days per month. Noorderlicht follows the Fair Practice Code when determining fees, depending on experience and time commitment.
Who we are looking for
We invite curators, researchers and artists with curatorial ambitions to apply. You have knowledge of, and curiosity about, the relationship between making, technology, play and image, and a sharp eye for contemporary lens-based practices. You enjoy working collaboratively in an open, experimental environment. Knowledge of, or a connection to, the Northern Netherlands is an asset. You have good command of the English language (reading and writing).
Noorderlicht strives for a diverse and inclusive community in which different perspectives strengthen one another. We therefore welcome candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to apply.
How to apply
Please send before December 15, 2025 one PDF file (max. 8 MB) including:
- Motivation letter (max. 1 page)
- CV (max. 2 pages)
- A writing sample (text, review or short essay, max. 1,000 words)
- Optional: letter of recommendation
Email your application to opencall@noorderlicht.com with the subject line: Co-curator Thinking Hands/PLAY.
