Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellowship at Sapieha Palace, a branch of the Contemporary Art Centre (CAC) Vilnius, is a full-time, 12-month position, due to start in Autumn 2026, with the possibility of a further 6-month extension (total 18 months) upon review and mutual decision. Relocation to Vilnius, Lithuania is required.
About The Institution
Sapieha Palace opened to the public in April 2024 in Antakalnis, a historic neighbourhood of Vilnius. Housed within a recently restored Baroque palace, it is a branch of the Contemporary Art Centre, one of the oldest and largest contemporary art institutions in the Baltic region. Sapieha Palace’s programme aims to create a critical dialogue between contemporary art, history, and tangible heritage, while reflecting the social and cultural processes relevant to the region. The annual programme comprises up to three solo exhibitions in the 1st Floor Northern Gallery and one thematic group exhibition spanning the second-floor spaces, alongside a symposium, educational initiatives, and public engagement activities.
About the Fellowship role
Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellow embedded within the Art Programme Department of Sapieha Palace will be responsible for development, implementation, and coordination of a section of its programme alongside the institution’s curatorial team and external curators.
(1) Curating one exhibition in the first-floor Northern Gallery, including the development and delivery of its accompanying public programme and related events;
(2) Supporting the development and production of the main exhibitions and their associated public programmes and events;
(3) supporting development of and coordinating the Sapieha Palace symposium.
The Fellow will be expected to:
- Align and agree the programme with the Director and in-house curators
- Initiate and maintain relationships with artists and collaborators
- Draft and oversee agreements with artists and partners
- Lead on the curatorial, conceptual and structural aspects of the programme, working closely with the production team
They will receive day-to-day production support from 2 in-house project coordinators, mentoring from Sapieha Palace curators and Director, as needed.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants should have:
- 1–5 years of relevant curatorial experience.
- Higher education qualification (BA, MA or equivalent) in curating, art history, visual culture, or related disciplines.
- Shall be a UK citizen, resident, or otherwise able to prove UK affiliation (e.g. settled/pre-settled status, long-term residency, or equivalent).
- Strong preference given to emerging practitioners who have not held full-time roles in major institutions or museums, able to demonstrate experience and initiative in running small-scale, self-directed projects, spaces, or frameworks.
- Sapieha Palace and Upė Foundation will fully support the process of arranging the Lithuanian work and residence permit.
What the Fellowship offers:
- A monthly salary of 2175 EUR gross
- Fully funded Compulsory health insurance
- Initial flights to Vilnius
- Support in finding accommodation and settling in
- Assistance in arranging the residence and work permits
- Flexible office hours
- Access to CAC’s broader infrastructure to support research and project development
How to apply
Please submit the following materials in English, compiled as a single PDF file, to sapiegurumai@cac.lt with the subject line “Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellow.”
- CV
- Motivational letter (maximum 1 A4 page), outlining your interest in Sapieha Palace and this specific opportunity
- Exhibition proposal for the 1st Floor Northern Gallery (maximum 1 A4 pages)
We place great value on original, individual writing and strongly advise against the use of artificial intelligence in preparing your application. Applications that are authentically the candidate’s own will be prioritised in the selection process.
If you have any questions before applying, you can contact Sapieha Palace sapiegurumai@cac.lt
Application deadline: 12:00 (noon) UK time, 13 July 2026
Interviews: early August 2026
Final decision: mid August 2026
Selection process
Applications will be reviewed jointly by Upė Foundation and Sapieha Palace. Following an initial assessment, a shortlist of candidates will be invited to a first-round online interview with representatives from both organisations. A smaller group of finalists will be invited to a second interview. The selection panel will include members of Upė Foundation and Sapieha Palace. Decisions are made by consensus, with agreement required from the full panel at each stage.