Rough Gems
Rough Gems is our annual open call and collaborative curatorial program at Union Hall. Surveying the landscape of opportunities available for creatives in Denver, we recognized that there are relatively few opportunities for emerging curators to submit work for consideration, receive portfolio reviews, and be awarded funds, when compared to similar opportunities for artists. Rough Gems was developed as a response to this gap; supporting artists, art historians, musicians, writers, students, producers and other creatives in developing their curatorial skills, and in turn supporting artists and diversifying the voices responsible for exhibition-making.
Rough Gems has been written about in Denverite, 303 Magazine, Southwest Contemporary, and MCA Denver’s Blog.
Rough Gems by the numbers
guest curators have created Rough Gems exhibitions since 2020
18
artists have exhibited their work through Rough Gems since 2020
79
curators showcased in 2023 identified as female or non-binary
3/4
of respondents in a 2024 survey have a disability or identify as disabled
14%
of respondents in a 2023 survey identified as LGBTQIA2+
73%
of all Rough Gems curators since 2020 have been BIPOC/Latinx
33%
Showcasing the work of three Denver-based curators/curatorial teams in a rotating pop-up exhibition format, Rough Gems grants access to Union Hall’s resources: paying equitable artist and curatorial stipends (aligned with W.A.G.E. guidelines), and providing curatorial mentorship, planning support, full use of Union Hall’s facilities, assistance during installation and deinstallation, marketing support, press outreach and staffing.
With Rough Gems, Union Hall hopes to impact the lives of emerging artists and curators with a platform for exhibition that is inclusive, supportive, and committed to the artists we serve by paying them for artwork, concepts, and performances.
2022 Rough Gems Curator
“The Rough Gems program provided a great and equal measure of freedom and support. Curators are supported by a great team at Union Hall provided with feedback, assistance, development, and education throughout all stages of the curatorial and exhibition process. It’s a unique and standalone program in the mentorship and opportunity it provides. But the team and program do this in a way where the curator still retains full ownership, accountability and freedom. I felt like I learned every step of the way but never had to minimize my ideas.”
