YCRP Madrid is the Spanish equivalent of the Young Curators Residency Programme operating in Torino since 2007. Founded in 2020 by Fundación Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Madrid, it aims at establishing a dialogue between the Spanish art scenes and the soon to be realised foundation in Madrid.

The programme consists of an intensive research residency in Spain that has the dual objective of developing the professional and critical skills of the young curators selected, while aiming at spreading knowledge of the Spanish art scene on an international level. The residency provides the opportunity for the three selected candidates to get in contact and work with Spanish artists, and furthers the Fundación Sandretto Re Rebaudengo’s commitment to the national contemporary art as well as its engagement with emerging curatorial practice. The in-depth research process, which sees the curators visiting over 200 artists’ studios, museums and art institutions across Spain under the guidance of a reference Spanish curator, culminates in an exhibition curated with the support of the team of Fundación Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Madrid.

The selection of participants takes place in collaboration with the most renowned international programs for curators: Royal College of Art, London; Graduate Program, Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York; Curatorial Program, De Appel, Amsterdam; CuratorLab, Konstfack University of Arts, Stockholm; Independent Study Program, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; MFA Curating, Goldsmiths University of London; MA Curatorial Practice, California College of the Arts, San Francisco; MAS/CAS Curating, Zurich University of the Arts. Participants are pre-selected following the indications of the directors of the courses involved, while the final selection is made by an international jury following an interview with each candidate, based on a motivational letter, curriculum vitae, portfolio of previously realised projects, published or recently edited texts. Among the others, Andrea Viliani, Chus Martínez, Mark Rappolt, Pierre Bal Blanc, Stefan Kalmár, Beatrix Ruf, Ralph Rugoff were part of the international jury.

The preparation of the exhibition is preceded by the study of bibliographic material, meetings with artists, curators, gallery owners, collectors and museum directors through trips and visits to the most important cultural production centres of Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Santander, Valencia, Málaga, Mallorca. The research of the Spanish art scene and the definition of the exhibition project are pursued under the guidance of an Spanish curator. Since 2020, Alejandro Alonso Díaz is the responsible of the Young Curators Residency Programme in Spain.

The Young Curators Residency programme is a unique example in Italy and Spain, as well as a renowned project internationally, thanks to the quality of the training provided and the outstanding practice pursued by the alumnae and alumni who, in many cases, hold prominent positions in museums and institutions. Among the curators who took part in the past editions: Kate Strain (Artistic Director, Grazer Kunstverein), Chris Fitzpatrick (Director, Kunstverein München), Pavel S. Pyś (Curator, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis), João Laia (Head Curator, Museo di Arte Contemporanea Kiasma, Helsinki) Kim Nguyen (Curator, CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco), Inti Guerrero (Artistic Director, Bellas Artes Projects, Makati).