NYK—mag 0425
05. Curators Collective
New project that brings together
young curators from across Denmark.
The way people moved through the city, how ideas were exchanged, and how art, music and community blended naturally – it all added to the foundation for what would turn into this magazine and the first blueprint for Curators Collective (CuCo).
That said, our experience from the past four years – working with facilitation, nightlife, curators and communities across cross-disciplinary music and club events – is the real foundation for this work. Paris didn’t create the idea; it expanded it. The trip gave shape to thoughts already in motion and helped us translate years of practice into a clear framework that others can now grow from.
CuCo is not a school, but it’s deeply educational. It’s a five-month journey bringing together eight emerging curators from Denmark’s independent and underground music scenes – people who already organise, book or create, but want to strengthen their curatorial voice and community.
Vision & Learning Goals
CuCo starts from the idea that curation today exists everywhere – between DJ booths and galleries, collectives and clubs, activism and aesthetics. The vision is to strengthen individual voices while building collective momentum.
Participants come to refine their personal practice and to rethink the systems shaping the scene. They leave with a clearer sense of direction, a stronger network, and the confidence to curate from connectedness rather than competition.
Framework
The Campus is built on experiential learning – the same principle that shaped the Paris trip. It’s about presence, participation, and reflection. Participants learn by doing: through collaboration, dialogue and peer feedback.
The framework values intuition as knowledge and curiosity as method. Mentorship plays a central role as lived examples. Everything revolves around connection before content: developing both mindset and method for inclusive, sustainable curation.
Modules & Mentorship
Across two intensive modules, the group moves from reflection to realisation. The first focuses on idea development and curatorial thinking – exploring identity, community and artistic direction. The second focuses on production and collaboration, leading into a collective showcase during SPOT Festival 2026.
Mentorship supports both phases through guided sessions, conversation and follow-up. The goal is to create a balance between learning and doing – between individual growth and collective production.
Next steps
The open call for participants will be released soon, inviting curators to join the first Campus, which officially launches in February 2026.
At its core, this project continues what NYK has always stood for. Now You Know connects artists, curators, and communities to create more diverse and equitable cultural experiences. We build collaborative frameworks, mentoring and qualifying emerging talents, curating showcases that challenge norms, and creating spaces where diversity drives creativity.
Our approach matters because culture shapes society. By centering equity, openness, and interdependence, we contribute to a more just, vibrant, and future-oriented cultural landscape.
Stay tuned and read more about the project here: CuCo