CUE’s annual open call provides emerging and underrepresented artists and curators the opportunity and resources to present an exhibition at CUE’s ground floor gallery space on West 25th Street in Manhattan, New York City.

Each year, the open call awards three opportunities to artists for solo exhibitions and one opportunity to a curator to organize a group exhibition at CUE. Awardees are each paired with a mentor, an established artist, or a curator who offers professional guidance on their practice and exhibition plans. CUE provides a generous honorarium to each awardee, as well as a modest budget for the transport of artwork and a budget for materials needed for the on-site installation of the works in the show. CUE staff also provides guidance on project conceptualization and exhibition design in their space, communication and outreach support, identity and graphic design development, photography and visual assets, professional development assistance, and more.

Additionally, for each show, CUE produces an accompanying exhibition catalog with a long-form essay commissioned through their Art Critic Mentorship Program, written by an independent emerging writer. The catalog also contains artist and mentor statements, bios, and images of the work.