MAC PANAMÁ X MERCANTIL LAUNCHES OPEN CALL FOR ITS FIRST YOUNG ARTIST AWARD 2025
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama has opened applications for a prize aimed at supporting the careers of emerging artists in the country through professional training, curatorial guidance, and institutional visibility. The application period will remain open until May 25, 2025.
Targeted at artists under the age of 35 residing in Panama who do not yet have an extensive institutional career, the MAC Panamá x Mercantil Young Artist Award offers the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the museum, participate in an international residency at Pivô (São Paulo), and engage in a mentorship program with specialists in contemporary art.
The winning project will become part of the museum’s curatorial program and will be exhibited in 2026 at La Bóveda, a space dedicated to new voices and artistic experimentation. This setting promotes critical proposals related to culture, social movements, and research, with a focus on opening dialogues with other contexts and enriching the local scene.
The jury is composed of prominent international professionals: Emilio Narciso (Curator of the Mercantil Collection), Juan Canela (Chief Curator of MAC Panamá), Ramon Martins (Project Coordinator at Pivô São Paulo), and Julia Morandeira (Director of the Cáder Institute of Central American Art at Museo Reina Sofía). In addition to selecting the winning project, each jury member will provide personalized mentoring sessions for the artist.
The artistic residency will take place between August and October 2025 at Pivô, an independent space that fosters critical production and collaboration among artists. The artist will then present their solo exhibition in early 2026. During the project development phase, the artist will also receive monthly curatorial support from the MAC Panamá team.
The open call will remain open until May 25, 2025, and no applications will be accepted after this deadline.
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