Five years of CuratorLab: supporting the next generation of curatorial voices
Behind every compelling exhibition are decisions that shape how we encounter art: whose work we see, which stories are told and how those stories connect with our lives. It is curators who bring these elements together, creating opportunities for artists and helping audiences find their way into the work.
This year, Latitudes celebrates five years of CuratorLab, including four years of support from RMB. Since its inception, the online residency and mentorship programme has provided career support to more than 50 curators, recognising the important role they play in a thriving arts ecosystem.
For emerging curators, the distance between having a strong idea and realising an exhibition can be considerable. Access to experienced practitioners, professional networks and opportunities to test ideas can help bridge that gap. CuratorLab brings these elements together, supporting participants as they develop their thinking and build their practice.
“Artists need people who can engage deeply with their work and bring it into meaningful conversation with audiences. Through RMB Latitudes CuratorLab, we’re supporting emerging curators to develop that ability, alongside the relationships and practical experience that help build a career,” says Roberta Coci, Latitudes Co-founder.
Wisdom Uche, Family Portrait, 2026, R63,000.00 ex. VAT, CONTACT TO BUY.
The value of sustained partnership
RMB’s continued support has given CuratorLab time to develop across successive cohorts, building on the experience of each year. This continuity allows relationships to deepen and creates a growing community of curators who can exchange ideas, knowledge and opportunities.
Mentorship is central to this work. The 2026 mentors are Renee Khonat, Bongani Njalo, Dr Thabang Monoa, Susana Sousa and Danniel Tostes, with guest speakers Dr Portia Malatjie and Alexandra Martinez contributing further perspectives. Their involvement gives participants access to different approaches and professional experiences as they develop their own curatorial voices.
Alka Dass, Container 5: wedding cake, 2026, R20,000.00, ex. VAT, CONTACT TO BUY.
New perspectives, wider connections
The 2026 cohort comprises 11 curators from South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and Egypt. Their different contexts create opportunities to learn across borders, question familiar assumptions and consider how exhibitions speak to different audiences.
Access is an important part of this process. Being able to ask questions, discuss an idea with an established practitioner or form a relationship with a peer can influence the direction of a career. CuratorLab creates space for these exchanges, alongside the focused work of developing an online exhibition.
Connecting curatorial and commercial practice
Curatorial work also plays an important role in the commercial life of art. A thoughtful exhibition gives audiences context, helps collectors engage with and discover unfamiliar work and can contribute to an artist’s visibility and income.
For emerging curators, understanding this relationship is part of developing a sustainable practice. It requires care for the artist’s intentions, an awareness of the audience and an understanding of how exhibitions function within the wider arts economy.
At five years, RMB Latitudes CuratorLab’s anniversary is a celebration of the curators who have shaped the programme and the partnerships that have supported them. With more than 50 curators supported to date, this growing community reflects the value of sustained investment: more people equipped to bring artists’ work into view, connect it with audiences and contribute to the future of the arts.
