Irish Schools of Architecture Network : SALON
Call for Curatorial Team: Architecture Student Exhibition — RIAI Conference + Building EXPO 2026
Building on the momentum of recent national collaboration and experimentation in architectural education between SALON members in each of the six Irish architecture schools, this call invites a design collective/practice to conceive, curate, and deliver the next iteration of a student exhibition at the RIAI Conference/Architecture + Building EXPO 2026 “Architecture for the Common Good.”
Context
The 2024 and 2025 exhibitions, “Constructive Interference” (see: Constructive Interference event details), established a compelling benchmark for how student work can engage critically with the construction industry. Presented as a large-scale, interactive installation within the RDS, the exhibitions brought together work from all six Schools of Architecture in Ireland and framed student practice as a provocative and credible voice within the profession. These events foregrounded urgent themes including climate responsibility, circularity, and alternative modes of practice - positioning students not only as learners but as agents of change. The 2026 exhibition seeks to build on this legacy - retaining ambition while expanding the scope, depth, and public impact of the student voice and student works.
The Opportunity
The selected team will work in close collaboration with the network of partner Schools [SALON] - and we are seeking a design-led Curatorial team (emerging architects, designers, curators, fabricators, and/or interdisciplinary practitioners) to:
- Develop a strong, critical design and curatorial vision for the exhibition.
- Propose an innovative spatial and material strategy for display within the ArchEXPO environment.
- Establish a coherent narrative framework that connects diverse student works into a unified proposition - aligning with Conference Theme “Architecture for the Common Good.”
- Curate a series of talks and events that foreground the potentiality of students as future practitioners.
- Liaison with individual coordinators in each of the six Schools of Architecture – where the schools will each be responsible for the installation of their individual exhibitions within the design framework and display infrastructure created by the curatorial team.
- Manage the full lifecycle of the project: concept and inception, coordination with Schools, design development, procurement and hire, management of health and safety risk assessments and insurances, fabrication, installation, and deinstallation of exhibition. It includes liaison with the RIAI and EventPro through regular event planning meetings – to ensure design alignment with the Conference and understand the H&S requirements of the venue.
Costings & Payment Structure
Competitive proposals are sought, with an indicative maximum budget of €18,000 (inclusive of VAT). This sum will include a design fee and the provision of exhibition artefacts e.g. hiring of lighting, creation of signage, rental of podiums, and supply of any other equipment. Please note that: (1) the contract will be between the successful party and the RIAI, and (2) the payment schedule for the budgeted amount is to be invoiced as a single sum by a single entity. It may also be possible for the payment to comprise of possibly two separate invoices - one before event (50%) and the second afterwards for the balance of payment (50%).
Interested teams are invited to submit:
- A statement of intent (max’ 500 words) outlining your curatorial position and approach to the event – which can include outline sketch visualisations.
- Written description of Applicant/Team composition and structure; short biographical notes on each Applicant/ Team member, and outline of individual roles; portfolio examples of exhibition, installation, or curatorial work.
- Confirmation of Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance. (Note that students and staff of the participating schools will be covered by their institutional insurance policies).
Submissions
Submission should be sent to the SALON Events Coordinators by email schoolsofarchitecturenetwork@gmail.com and be contained in one Folder with the Team’s name on it. In the subject line, please include the name “Architecture Student Exhibition 2026” followed by the name of your team e.g. Architecture Student Exhibition 2026_Daedalus.
Timeline
Call issued: Friday 22nd May 2026
Submission deadline: Friday 19th June 2026 at 12:00pm (no submissions accepted after the deadline)
Appointment: Mid-End June 2026
Design development: July-September 2026
Delivery: October 7th and 8th 2026 at RIAI Conference/ Architecture + Building EXPO 2026.
Evaluation Process and Selection Criteria
The submissions will be evaluated by a selection panel with representatives from each of the six SALON partner schools (CCAE, TU Dublin, ATU, UCD, SETU and UL) based on: clarity of curatorial vision (20%); feasibility of design (20%); experience in exhibition making and events coordination (20%); capacity to deliver on time and within budget (40%).
Queries
For informal discussions on the creative outlook or delivery possibilities, please contact Mr Dara Burke at ATU Department of Architecture by email to: dara.burke@atu.ie
For more on this story contact:
dara.burke@atu.ie; j.oshaughnessy@ucc.ie; architecture@ucc.ie;