OSLO.- Fotogalleriet announced the appointment of Belén Santillán as Research and Education Curator, a newly established position at the institution.

Belén Santillán is an Ecuadorian artist and educator based in Oslo. She holds a Master’s degree in Arts and Public Space from Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo (KHiO) and brings professional experience from museum and public art contexts. Her artistic and pedagogical practice explores the intersections of art and critical pedagogy, with a particular focus on how cultural institutions can open spaces for creative expression and collective learning.

As a member of the artist collective Tenthaus, Santillán has developed public programmes for Momentum 12 – Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, Tegnetriennalen 2023, Bergen Assembly 2025, and Stedsveven (2024–2026), a long-term public art commission by Oslo Kommune Kunstsamling. She has contributed to seminars and talks at KHiO, Bergen School of Architecture, the University of Bergen, and FRAME Finland, and her projects have been presented at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter – DKS-LAB for kritikere, the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA), and the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). Her work often takes shape as workshops and public programmes grounded in collaborative processes.

Reflecting on the role, Santillán notes: “As Research and Education Curator, I aim to contribute to Fotogalleriet by integrating critical and participatory approaches into the public programs. I view education as a transversal practice that moves through the inside, interstitial spaces, and outside of the institution, understanding its history and contributions while opening pathways to future possibilities.”

The Research and Education Curator role has been developed as part of Fotogalleriet’s ongoing commitment to strengthening research-based, discursive, and pedagogical practices across exhibitions and public programming.