Art Fund Launches ‘Empowering Curators’ Program for Global Majority Professionals
7March 24, 2026
Art Fund, a non-governmental British charity founded in 1903 to aid the country’s acquisition of artworks, announced on March 19 that the organization would launch theEmpowering Curatorsprogram, a five-year initiative intended to support senior to mid-career curators from global majority backgrounds in twenty separate multi-year curatorial roles.
Institutions across the nation includingTate Liverpool, the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, Royal Museums Greenwich, London and the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff have committed to supporting the program. The first ten curatorial fellows to participate in the program include Carine Harmand, who will be curating exhibitions for the reopening of Tate Liverpool in 2027.
Dr. Jill Sutherland, also in the program, will work alongside Harmand in the implementation of a new installation by Julianknxx in dialogue with the collection of the International Slavery Museum’s collection.
Neicia Marsh will be co-curating an exhibition at Autograph’s London gallery that “examines critical questions of race, rights and social justice.” In collaboration with The Whitworth, Christo Kefalas will be developing a new collaborative Master’s program with the University of Manchester.
“We’re so excited to be part of a broader shift towards curatorship that’s grounded in values, accountability and relationship-building, opening up a new sense of what’s possible,” Esme Ward, director of the Manchester Museum, said in a statement. “We know, from our work in recent years, the difference it can make when you create the conditions for diverse perspectives to thrive. Programmes like Empowering Curators are foundational in building a new ethics of care for participants, museums and the sector.”