The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation is a charitable organisation based in Frankfurt/Main, Germany  dedicated to collecting, exhibiting and promoting contemporary photography. We hold several exhibitions a  year and support artists, curators and writers internationally through awards, scholarships and other  opportunities. We continuously develop and present our growing collection, which currently comprises over  2,400 photographic works by 170 artists, whose visual languages are as diverse as their backgrounds, age,  or creative methodologies – moving fluidly between different genres and territories.   

With this new programme we wish to further expand our portfolio by supporting curatorial practice more  extensively while fostering a deeper dialogue with international curators about the medium, exchanging  ideas and new perspectives.  

The two-year Curatorial Fellowship is designed to support mid-career curators in advancing their research led exhibition organising practice and professional growth. It not only offers the opportunity to co-curate and  collaboratively realise an exhibition project in partnership with us but also to contribute actively to shaping  the development of our collection.   

The Position  

• The Curatorial Fellowship offers a two-year collaboration with the Deutsche Börse Photography  Foundation, inviting mid-career curators to develop a concept for a thematic exhibition based on  works from the Art Collection Deutsche Börse as well as proposing relevant additional acquisitions.  

• The objective is to develop an exhibition project that includes both existing and the newly acquired  artistic positions to shed new light on the collection; and to demonstrate how the collection  addresses aesthetic, societal, social and political issues through the medium of photography.  

• Recommendations for new acquisitions shall enhance the continual development of the  Foundation’s growing collection, introducing new perspectives and further developing diversity with  regards to representation and scope while complementing, enriching and strengthening its existing  holdings. 

 • The thematic exhibition, jointly curated with the Foundation team, will be presented at the  Foundation's own public premises and one external exhibition venue in Europe. It may be  supplemented with additional loans and site-specific projects, as appropriate.  

• The Fellowship may be undertaken remotely, with regular online exchange and occasional on-site  visits to the Foundation in Eschborn, Germany. Stimulating and open exchange with the  Foundation's directorial and curatorial management team is expressly desired and crucial.   • The position is designed to be flexible, allowing the Curatorial Fellow to integrate the work into their  practice regardless of their location and to maintain their current professional position.   

• Benefits include direct access to institutional archives (digital and physical) of the collection;  working closely with the Foundation’s curatorial team; gaining or building on curatorial expertise in  collection development; opportunities for public engagement, dissemination and presentation of  research through writing and exhibition-making.

• The Fellowship will start in spring 2026 and run across two years until 2028.  

• Year 1: following initial curatorial research, exchange and consultation, specific themes are  established, and a detailed exhibition concept & acquisition proposal is presented to the Foundation  team.

 • Year 2: following purchase of new works and considerations regarding loans, an essay to  accompany the exhibition (approx. 1,000 to 1,500 words) is written and curation, installation and  opening of the exhibition in Eschborn and one other cultural institution realised.  

• Stipend: renumeration of 10.000 Euros for both years, plus full coverage of travel costs.  

 Curatorial Fellowship expected outcomes:  

1. Developing an exhibition concept including 6 – 10 potential acquisition proposals   

 2. Writing a curatorial introduction essay to accompany the exhibition(s)  

 3. Installing & opening the exhibitions, including up to two public engagement talks

Candidate Profile / Who we are looking for   

• Mid-career curator with at least 4 years of professional experience in curating contemporary  photography exhibitions in museums, galleries or cultural institutions with strong conceptual  thinking and the ability to develop thematic curatorial frameworks. Previous professional experience  working with a collection is desired, but not essential.

 • We are particularly interested in candidates who bring diverse perspectives and can contribute to  expanding the collection’s scope and representation significantly. 

 • We are looking for candidates who are flexible, enthusiastic and have strong communication skills.  They should be willing to engage regularly with the Foundation team, be open-minded, committed  to collaborative working and curious about the organisation’s mission and collection.  

• Candidates should be fluent in English (spoken and written) and open to remote collaboration  (including online meetings, on average every two months) and occasional travel. Required travel will  be mutually agreed but expected to entail no more than 2 – 4 short visits of up to 4 days per year,  including for exhibition opening and installation.

Application Requirements  

Applicants should submit the following materials: 

 • Curriculum Vitae (CV; no more than 2 pages) and a one-page Motivation Letter outlining their  interest in the programme and relevant experience.  • Writing sample or excerpt (PDF; no more than 2 – 4 pages) or link to online article (optional).    

• A brief initial Project Proposal Outline (approx. 350 – 500 words) for an exhibition concept based  on works from the Art Collection Deutsche Börse, optionally including ideas for complementary  artistic positions (e.g. new acquisitions).  

 • Criteria: relevance, impact and originality of the proposed project; demonstrated curatorial  experience and expertise; feasibility of the project within the fellowship duration; innovative  engagement with the collection; commitment to public engagement and knowledge sharing.

• Please email your application as a PDF file (download link if documents exceed 10mb) to  foundation@deutsche-boerse.com with the subject line “Curatorial Fellowship” by 31 December  2025. 

 • Applications will be reviewed by a working group consisting of the Foundation’s management and  team as well as members of its Advisory Board in early 2026; selected candidates will be invited  for an online interview prior to appointment.  

• The planned start date for the programme is 1 April 2026  

• We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual  orientation, religion, or belief.