Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design
Contents 
Open Call — Now accepting proposals for exhibition concepts responding to Van Alen's archives. Deadline: June 28, 2026.
About
Van Alen Institute has spent more than 130 years at the intersection of design ambition and civic life. Its archive, comprising thousands of competition boards, jury records, photographs, and correspondence, is one of the most significant collections of American architectural history in existence. Much of it has never been seen by the public.
Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design positions the archive not as a museum piece but as living material, something to be questioned, reinterpreted, and held accountable to the present. It also invites careful reflection on Van Alen’s 130-year influence within the field of design and upon the shaping of American cities.
Van Alen invites emerging designers and creatives of all disciplines to delve into the currently accessible portions of our archive and consider its material through the lens of open and fair access. We are seeking project proposals that provoke deep reflection on how the pursuit of greater access to design can and must progress into the future, both within the profession and as a tool to reckon with society’s greatest challenges.
We welcome a wide range of creative approaches and encourage applicants to propose the medium that best serves their concept—architectural models, drawings, images, projections, video, photography, writing, or other media. Projects can either respond directly to specific materials within the archive, such as competition prompts or submitted drawings, or engage the archive’s content more thematically. Projects that invite direct engagement and interaction are strongly encouraged, as are multi-disciplinary collaborations. Ideas for public programming to enrich your project, such as workshops, talks, or other events, are welcomed (but not required).
Five projects will be selected and all will be displayed together during the Open Access exhibition at Van Alen’s Urban Room, September 28–November 13, 2026. Each project will receive an all-inclusive $3,000 honorarium (please note: production costs must be factored into this total). Selected projects will also receive curatorial and archival support from Van Alen, and access to Materials for the Arts for donated supplies.
Considerations
Van Alen’s archive is a living, active record; one that reflects how this institution has moved through questions of access and design over more than a century. Every competition brief, travel journal, submission, prompt, and departmental structure in it represents someone’s own interpretation of accessibility.
We are drawn to work that opens up conversations on how access has moved through the institution. We seek projects that encourage us to ask:
- How have definitions of quality design, along with the way design is taught and practiced, changed over time?
- How has the evolution of representing design ideas impacted the way we see and talk about cities?
- What challenges facing cities and their inhabitants did Van Alen’s community take up and which problems, perspectives, and narratives were overlooked?
- Who was invited into Van Alen’s community to shape space and exchange ideas, and who was left out, despite having valuable ideas and experiences to contribute?
- If communities had been centered in design from the beginning, what might our cities look like today? What alternate paths might we have taken throughout history? What futures might have been (and could be) possible?
Eligibility
Applicants do not need formal architectural training. Individuals whose practices engage public space, cities, culture, or civic life are strongly encouraged to apply. This opportunity is open to emerging creatives across disciplines including but not limited to: Architects, archivists, artists, designers, educators, filmmakers, graphic designers, interdisciplinary practitioners, photographers, planners, researchers, scholars, and writers. Collaborative proposals are permitted; however, honoraria may need to be shared among collaborators.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be legally authorized to work in the United States, or capable of receiving an artist honorarium
- Be available to participate in hybrid project check-ins between July and November 2026
- Commit to delivering exhibition-ready work according to the project timeline
Award
Selected participants will receive:
- $3,000 honorarium
- Access to archival materials and curatorial support
- Mentorship from Van Alen staff, advisors, and invited professionals
- Inclusion in a public-facing exhibition at Van Alen Institute, September 28–November 13, 2026
- Opportunities to participate in public programming and related events
- Access to free materials through Materials for the Arts
- Professional documentation of exhibited work
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted electronically via Airtable.
Submission Requirements
- Project Proposal: A written proposal (maximum 1,000 words) describing the archival material(s) or themes you intend to engage, the conceptual framework of the proposed work, the proposed medium, format, installation approach, how the work responds to, re-contextualizes, or critiques the archive, and any anticipated production or technical needs. Applicants may additionally submit sketches, diagrams, visual references, or preliminary drawings.
- Portfolio / Work Samples: 1–3 examples of previous work (work relevant to proposed projects encouraged). Accepted formats include PDFs, images, video links, audio links, writing samples, and documentation of exhibitions or installations.
- Artist Statement or Biography: A brief statement (maximum 500 words) describing your practice, interests, and relevant experience.
- Public Programming Proposal: Applicants are encouraged to propose related public-facing programming — workshops, talks, readings, walking tours, performances, participatory activities, or educational engagements. (Note: Optional, but encouraged.)
Accepted file formats: PDF, JPG/PNG, MP4/MOV links, and web links to supporting materials. Please ensure your submission is complete. Incomplete applications may not be considered
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Artistic or design excellence
- Critical engagement with archival materials
- Feasibility within the exhibition timeline and budget
- Potential contribution to broader public discourse
- Relevance to the exhibition framework
- Strength and originality of concept
- Thoughtfulness regarding representation, historical inquiry, and interpretation
The selection committee will include representatives from Van Alen Institute’s invited curators and staff, with additional support from advisors, Board members, and our external network.
Exhibition Parameters
Selected participants will be expected to:
- Produce exhibition-ready work by agreed deadlines
- Selected fellows will participate in three group check-ins: one upon selection, one at the midpoint of the project development period, and one in mid-August ahead of installation
- Participate in regular 1:1 check-ins with Van Alen staff
- Collaborate with exhibition staff on installation requirements
- Provide digital documentation and descriptive materials for exhibition and promotional use
- Participate in at least one exhibition-related public event, if requested
Final works should be suitable for professional exhibition display and installation.
Note on Van Alen’s Urban Room: Space for presentation is limited. Selected projects will be one of five presented simultaneously during the exhibition. Please see the floor plan below and consider when determining dimensions and means of presentation for your project.
Explore the Archive
Van Alen’s archive is a living collection. The archives chronicle the 134-year history of the institution and is currently undergoing a multi-year project to organize and make accessible for public use. For this call, we are currently able to provide applicants with access to the following:
Digital Archive
With more than 2,000 digitized objects, our existing digital archive is a rich window into a century’s worth of programs that have nurtured generations of architects and urban thinkers. Explore some highlights below or browse the full digital archive.
An International Gateway of Friendship (1929)
22nd Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture
“At the suggestion of President Elect Hoover, it has been proposed to construct an international road furthering the link of friendship and commerce between the three Americas. This road will cross our border over the Rio Grande into Mexico, and this program proposes to erect on the brink of a river a monument symbolizing this new bond between the Republics of the new world.” (Excerpt from competition brief)
A Community Building (1948)
35th Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture
“A community needs more than physical spaciousness in public and private areas, more than sunlight and air, more than convenient shopping centers and adequate schools. There must be a community spirit, a sense of neighborliness and a sense of pride in one’s community. There is a great need for a meeting place where people can learn the art of joy of getting along with one another.” (Excerpt from competition brief)
A World Study Center for Philosophies and Ideas (1965)
52nd Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture
“Mankind will be confronted with proof of the existence or non-existence of extra-terrestrial life. Contrary to the results of past ‘discovery’ eras, it is hoped that by preparatory study the difficult transitions accompany great discoveries can be made more easily and successfully. To accomplish this, it is proposed to construct a center for the exchange of world philosophies and ideas.” (Excerpt from competition brief)
National Center for Botanical Study (1986)
73rd Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture
“The prime focus of the Center will be botanic study of, and experimentation with, wild flowers and aquatic plants. Plant ecologies that are characters of various regions of North America will be recreated in greenhouses and natural settings. Public visitations and educational programs will be major aspects of the Center’s activities.
“One of the major design opportunities will be the resolution of the built and the natural environments. Any solution must recognize the two sets of seemingly conflicting concerns that accompany such an environmental contract, allowing aspects of each to occur at various scales.” (Excerpt from competition brief)
Desert Passage (X Marks the Spot) (1987)
74th Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture
“Individuals and small groups of pilgrims have journeyed for years to a site lying along the thirty-sixth parallel near Taos, New Mexico. Traces of a timeless energy issue from this high desert. Deeply personal voyages to this spot are undertaken in order to experience and comprehend the palpable emanations of the ancient source.
“Emerging now, however, from the collective echo of the many travelers is a call to celebrate, in architectural form, the special status of this arid precinct. The design challenge to recognize the inherent sanctity of the site, to preserve its special aura, and to acknowledge the human processions and natural cycles occurring there. The architectural mandate includes construction of a shrine, a shelter for one to ten people and an observation point.” (Excerpt from competition brief)
Institutional Records
The following records are available on-site at Van Alen’s office and viewable by appointment during normal business hours (Monday–Thursday, 10 am–6 pm).
- Publication materials, including press and newspaper clippings: 1894–present
- Competition Programs and Jury Reports: 1894–2008
- Paris Prize in Architecture: 1904–49, 1980–94
- William Van Alen Memorial Award: 1972–94
- Annual Reports: 1916–40, 1950–76
- Van Alen Reports, including competition and exhibition brochures): 1996–2005
Note: Gaps in time indicate records that are missing and unavailable.
Finding Aid
This is a list of archival boxes and binders containing a wide assortment of institutional documents such as competition prompts, jury notes, program-related correspondence, party invitations, financial statements, etc. The list, through its general descriptions of the boxes, provides a broad, categorical overview of the types of records in our possession.
Note: while viewing these specific records is not possible during the proposal period, winning project teams will have access to these records if needed to further develop their projects.
Physical Archive (Videos)
These videos show Van Alen staff handling specific records from the archive, providing a “feel” for the material. Featured material includes:
- Student competition submissions across architecture, sculpture, graphic arts, and interior design
- Materials from the Beaux-Arts Ball, 1927–1928
- Institutional records and correspondence from the Society of Beaux-Arts, 1928–1930
- The Beaux Arts Boys on the Boulevards: A book documenting a group trip to Paris with portrait drawings by Tony Sarg, 1933
- Cassandra McGovern, Van Alen Fellowship 3rd Prize, 1981
- Hawaii and Modernism: A travel report with photographs documenting an architecture expedition, 1986
- Travel log from Joan Bassin for the National Institute of Architecture Education and Van Alen Endowment Fellowship, 1992
Contact
Mina Morales
Curatorial Assistant
