This intensive six-session workshop, instructed by Caitlin Julia Rubin, guides ten artists through the complete process of creating a small group exhibition. The course covers all practical aspects of exhibition development including curation, artist statements, gallery relationships, promotional materials, social media, opening receptions and public programming. The workshop culminates in a group exhibition at the Cambridge Art Association’s East Cambridge Gallery, CAA @ Canal.
Upon completing this workshop, participants will be able to develop a cohesive curatorial vision for a group exhibition, create professional artist statements and exhibition materials, design effective exhibition promotion strategies, and execute a successful gallery opening. Through hands-on activities and collaborative sessions, artists will gain all the necessary skills to transform their studio work into a professional group exhibition.
Registration Opens: Thursday, July 23
Registration Closes: Wednesday, September 23
INSPIRED BY The Ten: Whitney Dissenters
From the foreword of the exhibition catalogue:
“For four years THE TEN have been exhibiting as an articulate entity… They have been called expressionist, radical, cubist and experimentalist. Actually, they are experimenters by the very nature of their approach, and, consequently, strongly individualistic. Their association has arisen from this community of purpose rather than from any superficial similarity in their work…”
Course dates:
6 weeks with instructor + 4 additional dates
Hybrid Format:
Session 1 (in person): Wednesday, Oct 7 from 6-8:30pm at (CAA @ CANAL)
Session 2 (virtual): Wednesday, Oct 21 from 6-8:30pm (ZOOM)
Session 3 (in person): Wednesday, Nov 11 from 6-8:30pm (CAA @ CANAL)
Session 4 (virtual): Wednesday, Nov 18 from 6-8:30pm (ZOOM)
Session 5 (virtual): Wednesday, Dec 2 from 6-8:30pm (ZOOM)
Session 6 (in person): Wednesday, Dec 9 from 6-8:30pm at (CAA @ CANAL)
Exhibition dates: January 20 – February 19, 2027
Drop-off and Installation: January 12 – 14, 2027
Opening Reception: January 21, 2027 6-8pm
Artist Talk: TBA
De-installation: February 23-24, 2027

Meet the Instructor
Caitlin Julia Rubin (she/her/hers) is a curator and writer, and has held curatorial positions at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute and Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, where she was the Associate Curator & Director of Programs. Within this position and in prior years at the Rose, she organized and co-organized projects by Mark Dion, Rosalyn Drexler, Jennie C. Jones, Tuesday Smillie, and Caroline Woolard, among others; curated numerous collection-focused presentations; and contributed to and produced both museum and artist publications. With Lauren Haynes, she co-curated the exhibition Lyle Ashton Harris: Our first and last love, which debuted at the Rose Art Museum in February 2023 and traveled to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University and the Queens Museum, New York, where it was highlighted as a New York Times Critic’s Pick and listed among the “Best Art of 2024.” Her exhibition with the artist Hồng-Ân Trương, With love from your Vietnamese Sisters, was on view at Radcliffe from September–December 2025.
COURSE OUTLINE
- SESSION 1: Exhibition Foundations and Artist Introductions (CANAL)
- SESSION 2: Curatorial Development and Theme Exploration (ZOOM)
- SESSION 3: Exhibition Planning -Field trip to CAA @ Canal GALLERY
- SESSION 4: Promotions, Social Media and Professional Materials (ZOOM)
- SESSION 5: Installation Planning and Logistics (ZOOM)
- SESSION 6: Final Preparations and Implementation (CANAL)
Post-Course sessions include: artwork drop off artwork/installation, the opening reception, online artist talk, and deinstallation.
Artist’s Applying to the workshop should have:
- A developed body of work to curate from
- A website
- Access to a laptop or desktop computer (no iPads or iPhones).
- Familiarity with Zoom, Chat, Google Docs, and Drive. *All artists must participate in a brief tech check-in before the first class.
Past Cohort Exhibits
- Led by Mallory Ruthann – Still as the World is Never Still
GALLERY SALES
The Cambridge Art Association will be due the normal percentage of sale price; 50% (Non-Member), 40% (Associate Artist Member), 45% (Student Artist Member) or 33% (Artist Member), for the duration of the exhibit, OR if any exhibited work seen at or learned about through a CAA exhibit is sold within three months of the exhibition. This applies whether or not art is invoiced through the Cambridge Art Association.
All exhibiting artists are required to read and sign our Exhibitor Agreement. For artwork priced over $7,500, artists must additionally sign a Release and Waiver of Liability form prior to dropping off artwork.
REGISTRATION FEE
CAA Member: $525
General Admission: $625
Maximum enrollment: 10 artists
Included in cost of class:
- Professional installer
- Printing of wall labels, wall vinyl, and gallery poster
- Staff assistance with: Set-up of Google Drive for image and statement sharing
- Google Chat set-up
- Gallery insurance
- CAA member volunteer hours (not guaranteed)
- Staff presence for installation, reception, programming, and de-installation
Have questions about the Small Group Show Workshop? Contact Steph Todhunter at stodhunter@cambridgeart.org