Association for Art History

Join us in bringing Art History to schools during the Art History Festival 2026.

We’re inviting academics, curators, artists and art market professionals to take part in a week‑long, nationwide collaboration to bring Art History to schools. Our goal is to inspire the next generation – showing just how exciting, relevant, and diverse the subject can be. By synchronising our voices between 5–11 October, we can create a powerful, nationwide moment for Art History.

From students to senior professionals, anyone can visit a school during Art History Festival Week. Many of us already give talks in schools or have considered doing so; we are turning individual efforts and aspirations into a collective celebration.

Deadline: 17 July 2026
More info: https://loom.ly/aXbVBbI

Don't miss these upcoming art history events and opportunities:

📌Curatorial Prize Ceremony Event and Industry Panel Discussion
📅 23 June 2026
An evening of lively discussion and celebration, bringing together leading curators for a panel on peer-to-peer partnerships, the AAH Curatorial Prizes 2026, and a drinks reception.

📌AAH 2027 Conference: Call for Sessions
📅 Deadline: 1 July 2026
Submissions are now open for sessions for the 2027 Annual Conference at University of Exeter

📌The Art Fund Venice Curators Programme
📅 Deadline: 12 July 2026
A four-day professional development programme focused on the Venice Art Biennale in September 2026 for museum and gallery curators

📌Become an Art History Schools Champion
📅 Deadline: 17 July 2026
A nationwide collaboration to bring Art History to life in classrooms and assemblies during the Art History Festival

📌Undergraduate Video Prize 2026: Open for Entries
📅 Deadline: 18 September 2026
Video submissions now open for UK undergraduate studying art history or visual culture

📌Art History Festival: Call for Partners
📅 Festival 2027: 5–11 October 2026
Open to partners, including universities, galleries, and arts organisations nationwide, to host free events - from talks and tours to workshops and behind‑the‑scenes encounters

Find out more: https://forarthistory.org.uk/

Image: The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) - album, formerly attributed to Tosa Mitsusada, inscription by Shoren'in Sonjun Shinno (MET, 94.18.1a–xx)

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

We’re thrilled to announce that Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures at The Hepworth Wakefield wins Association For Art History 2026 Curatorial Prize for Exhibitions. The exhibition’s accompanying publication, Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures, also won the Curatorial Prize for Writing.

The winning exhibition, curated by Laura Smith (Artistic Director, The Hepworth Wakefield) and Farah Dailami (Assistant Curator, The Hepworth Wakefield), was praised by the panel for the rigorous research and archival recovery work undertaken on Chadwick’s work and life, and how this informed an effective narrative within the exhibition. The visual coherence of the exhibition, as well as the overall excellence of the project, were highly regarded by the panel.
________
Highly commended:
🔸Curators Zehra Jumabhoy, Lecturer in the History of Art, University of Bristol, and Exhibitions Officer Katy Freer at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, for the exhibition Tigers & Dragons: India and Wales in Britain in Exhibitions category
🔸 As Hardly Found: Art and Tropical Architecture edited by Albert Brenchat Aguilar in Writing and Publications category

Congratulations to all individuals and organisations involved in the above exhibitions. We look forward to formally celebrating them at our Curatorial Prize Event in London:

The Gallery, 70 Cowcross St, London, EC1M 6EJ
Tuesday 23 June
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Free, booking essential via https://loom.ly/McSnOkU

📸 Installation image of Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures, 17 May - 26 October 2025, The Hepworth Wakefield. Photography Michael Pollard

Who will be awarded this year’s Curatorial Prizes for Exhibitions and for Curatorial Writing?

The winners will be announced tomorrow, Monday 8 June.

Ahead of the announcement, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to this year’s judging panels for their time, expertise and contributions to selecting the winners.

Exhibitions Panel:
Caroline Campbell - Director, National Gallery of Ireland
Tristram Hunt - Director, Victoria and Albert Museum
Sook-Kyung Lee - Director, The Whitworth and Professor of Curatorial Practice, The The University of Manchester
Sarah Munro - Artistic Director & CEO, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

Curatorial Writing Panel:
Gillian Malpas - CEO, Modern Art Press
Christine Riding - Director of Collections and Research, National Gallery
Fatoş Üstek - Independent Curator and Writer
Kamini Vellodi - Head of Painting, Royal College of Art

Happening tomorrow: Breaking into the Art World 💻

Curious about careers in the art world but not sure what roles are out there or how to get started?

Breaking into the Art World is a practical, no‑nonsense session designed for undergraduates and A Level students, and anyone exploring their next steps in the art market, museums, galleries, or the wider cultural sector.

You’ll get clear advice on how to work out which roles might suit you, what employers look for in early‑career candidates, and how to stand out in the hiring process even if you’re just starting out. We’ll cover CVs and cover letters, and how to show your interest in the sector—with practical tips you can use immediately when applying for internships, entry‑level roles or volunteering opportunities.

This free careers webinar is packed with real‑world advice from people who recruit, mentor and work with early‑career talent every day.

Speakers include:
• Alexandra Steinacker-Clark, Author of ‘Working in Art: How to Build a Career in the Art World’
• Toby Monk, Global Recruitment & Engagement Director, Christie’s
• Christina Bradstreet, Head of Programmes, Association for Art History; former Director, Career Services, Sotheby’s Institute of Art

Free webinar, Saturday 6 June, 11am-12.30pm
Book Now: https://loom.ly/inQZUDA

🚨 Announcement: Association for Art History in a brand new partnership with Art Fund is delighted to offer up to 8 fully funded places for UK museum and gallery curators who are at an early-to-mid-stage in their career to attend a four-day professional development programme focused on the Venice Art Biennale in September 2026.

This programme will bring together a group of early-to-mid-career curators to participate in a carefully designed schedule of visits, tours, behind-the-scenes access and networking opportunities.

The programme will be hosted by Art Fund and the Association for Art History and will include:

• online pre-programme session
• tour of Giardini Biennale Pavilions (including the British Pavilion) and Arsenale exhibitions
• visits to Wales in Venice and Scotland + Venice presentations
• private collection and artist studio visits

The UK Curators in Venice 2026 with Art Fund and the Association for Art History takes place in Venice from Tuesday 15 - Friday 18 September.

Deadline for applications: 12 July 2026

More info: https://www.artfund.org/professional/get-funding/programmes/uk-curators-in-venice-2026-with-art-fund-and-the-association-for-art-history

Image: Wales in Venice 2019. Courtesy Sean Edwards and Tanya Leighton, Berlin. Image: Jamie Woodley

Undergrad Video Prize 2026: Open for Entries

Are you a UK undergrad studying art history or visual culture?

Submit a short video (up to 90 seconds) about your experience studying the subject for a chance to win and be screened at the National Gallery, London.

Phone videos are welcome; creativity matters more than high production values.

Deadline: Friday, 18 September 2026, at 23:59 (BST)

View the full entry guidelines:

Undergraduate Video Prize - For Art History We are delighted to launch this year’s Undergraduate Video Prize as part of the Art History Festival 2026. The prize is open to all UK undergraduate students studying art history or visual culture. We invite students to create a short video (up to 90 seconds) reflecting on their experience of stud...

Stay connected with the latest in art history 📩

Sign up to the Association for Art History newsletter to receive monthly updates straight to your inbox. Be the first to hear about upcoming events, funding opportunities, calls for papers, new research, professional development opportunities, and news from across the art history community.

Whether you’re a student, researcher, curator, educator, or simply passionate about art history, our newsletter keeps you informed and connected.

Sign up: https://loom.ly/yiWLEEE

Breaking into the Art World 💻

Curious about careers in the art world but not sure what roles are out there or how to get started?

Breaking into the Art World is a practical, no‑nonsense session designed for undergraduates and A Level students, and anyone exploring their next steps in the art market, museums, galleries, or the wider cultural sector.

You’ll get clear advice on how to work out which roles might suit you, what employers look for in early‑career candidates, and how to stand out in the hiring process even if you’re just starting out. We’ll cover CVs and cover letters, and how to show your interest in the sector—with practical tips you can use immediately when applying for internships, entry‑level roles or volunteering opportunities.

This free careers webinar is packed with real‑world advice from people who recruit, mentor and work with early‑career talent every day.

Free webinar, Saturday 6 June, 11am-12.30pm
Book Now: https://loom.ly/inQZUDA

Association for Art History Conference 2027: Call for Sessions is now open!

The Association for Art History Annual Conference returns 7–9 April 2027 in collaboration with the University of Exeter.

The Annual Conference reflects the Association for Art History’s commitment to a broad and inclusive art history. We strive for sessions across all areas of research and practice, from the ancient to the contemporary, and across all forms of artistic media, including those that focus on practice outside of Europe and North America. In a 21st century facing multiple global challenges, the recognition and support of intersectional arts histories are of critical importance, and we welcome submissions that engage with race and gender, the environment, AI, and social activism.

🗓 Session proposal deadline: 1 July 2026

Open to members and non-members alike.

More details: https://loom.ly/9GsU-w8