RUBEZH PORTFOLIO LAB 2026
An online peer critique group without a mentor
For émigré artists
October 1 — December 22, 2026
For émigré artists
October 1 — December 22, 2026
NEW OPEN CALL
- 24.09.2026Open call deadline
- 27.09.2026Open call results
- 01.10—22.12.2026Laboratory dates
Applying to the open call is free.
To confirm their place, selected artists make a donation of any amount before the lab begins. At the end, anyone who found the lab valuable can choose to make a second donation — also of any amount.
To confirm their place, selected artists make a donation of any amount before the lab begins. At the end, anyone who found the lab valuable can choose to make a second donation — also of any amount.
Improving together
Every artist gets stuck on their portfolio. Advice is conflicting, honest feedback is rare, and no one really knows what a jury wants. Meanwhile, it is tempting to skip the boring paperwork and just make art.
That’s why we created RUBEZH Portfolio Lab: to stop putting it off and tackle it together. Here, you’ll see your work through other artists’ eyes and even get inside the jury’s head by selecting applications for a real open call. You don’t need a guru to tell you what your portfolio should be: thinking critically about different perspectives helps you understand your own practice, and that is where a strong portfolio begins.
That’s why we created RUBEZH Portfolio Lab: to stop putting it off and tackle it together. Here, you’ll see your work through other artists’ eyes and even get inside the jury’s head by selecting applications for a real open call. You don’t need a guru to tell you what your portfolio should be: thinking critically about different perspectives helps you understand your own practice, and that is where a strong portfolio begins.
- 3 months
- 9 émigré artists
- 2 online meetings per week
- 9 portfolio review sessions
- 6 group discussions
- 3 reflection sessions
- + One real open call created and judged by the group
What you'll gain
-
Build a portfolio around your goalsSelect and structure the material for the opportunities you want to pursue. - See your artistic practice from a new perspectiveUnderstand how others perceive your work and artistic position.
- Prepare your application materialsClarify the roles of a CV, bio, artist statement, and motivation letter.
- Learn to work with feedbackGive constructive criticism, receive it, and stand by your own perspective.
- Join the jury of a real open callExperience the selection process from the other side and see what really matters.
- Find a supportive circle of fellow artistsExchange experience and grow together without competition or hierarchy.
The programme
October 1 — December 22, 2026
Meetings will take place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 14:00 CET.
The time may be adjusted to accommodate the group.
Meetings will take place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 14:00 CET.
The time may be adjusted to accommodate the group.
- Portfolio reviewsEach artist presents their portfolio once. Everyone receives it in advance and comes prepared with concrete feedback.
- Reflection sessionsAfter every three reviews, the artists return to the feedback and decide what to use, question, or reject.
- Group discussionsTopics we’ll cover
- What makes a good portfolio? — Criteria and references
- One practice, different portfolios — Goals, audiences, and formats
- CV, bio, artist statement, and portfolio — Their roles and differences
- Selection and narrative — What to include and how to structure it
- Design and documentation — Images, captions, links, and different media
- How juries review applications — What gets noticed and how decisions are made
- A real open callTogether, we will decide what the call will be for: an exhibition, laboratory, or residency. This will be a real project created and launched by RUBEZH specifically as part of the Portfolio Lab.
The group will then become the jury and select the artists using RUBEZH’s method: independent evaluation, a shortlist, and a final group discussion.
October 1
October 1
Introduction
Meet the group, discuss expectations, and define what each artist wants their portfolio to achieve.
October 6
October 6
Discussion: What Makes a Good Portfolio?
Share portfolios you admire and identify what makes them clear, convincing, and cohesive.
October 8
October 8
Discussion: Portfolio Types and Their Audiences
Compare general portfolios, websites, and portfolios created for specific exhibitions, residencies, grants, programmes, and open calls.
October 13
October 13
Discussion: Creating a Real Open Call
Choose whether the project will be an exhibition, laboratory, or residency, and begin developing its concept and selection criteria.
October 15
October 15
Portfolio Review 1
October 20
October 20
Portfolio Review 2
October 22
October 22
Portfolio Review 3
October 27
October 27
Discussion: CV, Bio, Artist Statement, and Portfolio
Discuss the purpose of each document, how they work together, and how to avoid repetition.
October 29
October 29
Reflection: Block 1
Artists 1–3 reflect on the feedback: what resonated, what did not, and what they may change.
November 3
November 3
Portfolio Review 4
November 5
November 5
Portfolio Review 5
November 10
November 10
Portfolio Review 6
November 12
November 12
Discussion: Portfolio Selection and Narrative
Discuss what to include, what to remove, and how to structure projects—especially in a multidisciplinary portfolio.
November 17
November 17
Reflection: Block 2
Artists 4–6 reflect on the feedback and decide what they want to change or keep.
November 19
November 19
Portfolio Review 7
November 24
November 24
Portfolio Review 8
November 26
November 26
Portfolio Review 9
December 1
December 1
Discussion: Portfolio Design and Documentation
Discuss layout, texts, captions, image quality, technical requirements, and presenting different media.
December 3
December 3
Reflection: Block 3
Artists 7–9 reflect on the feedback and decide what they want to change or keep.
December 8
December 8
Discussion: How Juries Review Applications
Define voting criteria and discuss artistic quality, relevance, potential, shortlisting, and difficult decisions.
December 10
December 10
Open-Call Selection: First Round
Evaluate real applications independently and compare the results as a group.
December 15
December 15
Open-Call Selection: Final Round
Review the shortlist, discuss the applications again, and select the finalists.
December 17
December 17
Final Meeting
Share conclusions, changes, and plans for the future.
December 22
December 22
Optional Epilogue: Preparing an Application
Prepare an application for an open call with feedback and support from the group.
Facilitated by Alsu Garapova
RUBEZH founder and curator Alsu Garapova will facilitate the lab, guide discussions, and introduce RUBEZH’s open-call selection method without acting as a mentor or final authority.
Applying to the open call is free.
To confirm their place, selected artists make a donation of any amount before the lab begins. At the end, anyone who found the lab valuable can choose to make a second donation — also of any amount.
To confirm their place, selected artists make a donation of any amount before the lab begins. At the end, anyone who found the lab valuable can choose to make a second donation — also of any amount.
Curated by RUBEZH
RUBEZH is an international diaspora of émigré artists. The project brings together artists born in 25+ countries and now living across 5 continents, creating a shared cultural space beyond national borders.
RUBEZH is built on the values of liberty, human rights, equality, freedom of cultural expression, solidarity, and peaceful dialogue. Through exhibitions, festivals, artist talks, laboratories, support groups, and online and offline gatherings, the project helps artists continue their practice in conditions of displacement, build new connections, and find a sense of home within an international artistic community.
Instagram RUBEZH is built on the values of liberty, human rights, equality, freedom of cultural expression, solidarity, and peaceful dialogue. Through exhibitions, festivals, artist talks, laboratories, support groups, and online and offline gatherings, the project helps artists continue their practice in conditions of displacement, build new connections, and find a sense of home within an international artistic community.
Publication
After the lab, RUBEZH will publish a dedicated page documenting the project and introducing each artist who took part.
Q&A
Emerging and experienced artists working in any medium may apply, but the lab is only open to artists with personal experience of emigration.
No. You need an existing body of work and something to share with the group, but your portfolio can be unfinished or in progress.
No. There is no mentor or single correct approach. Alsu Garapova will facilitate the process, while all artists contribute their own perspectives and experience.
Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 14:00 CET. The time may be adjusted to accommodate the group.
Regular attendance is essential because the lab depends on mutual feedback. Please apply only if you can join most meetings and actively support the other artists.
No. The aim is to reflect on different opinions, decide what is useful to you, and make your own choices.
No. The final meeting is about sharing what you discovered, what you may change, and what you decided to keep.
Applying is free. Selected artists confirm their place with a donation of any amount. An optional second donation can be made after the lab.
This is separate from the open call for joining the Portfolio Lab. During the programme, the group will develop another open call for a new RUBEZH project—an exhibition, laboratory, or residency. RUBEZH will launch the project, while the group will act as the jury and select the artists.
Please contact the RUBEZH team at writeme@rubeeeeeeezh.io. We will reply as soon as possible.
Applying to the open call is free.
To confirm their place, selected artists make a donation of any amount before the lab begins. At the end, anyone who found the lab valuable can choose to make a second donation — also of any amount.
To confirm their place, selected artists make a donation of any amount before the lab begins. At the end, anyone who found the lab valuable can choose to make a second donation — also of any amount.