Art Fund Initiates Fellowship Program for Global Majority Curators in UK Institutions

The UK charity Art Fund has established a new fellowship program called Empowering Curators to address underrepresentation in curatorial leadership. The initiative will provide multi-year placements for 20 curators from Global Majority backgrounds at museums and galleries across the United Kingdom. Participants will develop exhibitions, create programming, and engage with community audiences. The first cohort includes Christo Kefalas at the Whitworth, Carine Harmand at Tate Liverpool, Jill Sutherland at the International Slavery Museum, and Nusrat Ahmed at Manchester Museum. This program responds to recent reports highlighting diversity gaps in cultural sector leadership, including Art Fund's 2022 publication and Creative UK's 2025 analysis. A steering committee featuring Gus Casely-Hayford of V&A East and Noorah Al-Gailani of the British Museum will oversee the project, which receives funding from the Headley Trust, Arts Council England, and the Hollick Family Foundation.