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Call for Applications

Deadline Sunday 18 January 2026

Art Exchange: Moving Image is a collaborative, cross-cultural curatorial development programme designed to strengthen the practice of early to mid-career visual arts curators from Sub-Saharan Africa who are engaging with moving image as a medium. The programme focuses on building curatorial confidence, fostering critical dialogue, expanding international networks, and supporting curators to realise moving image exhibitions in their local contexts. The first iteration of Art Exchange: Moving Image ran in 2023-25. You can read more about the programme in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia HERE.

Supported by the British Council, and delivered by Breinstorm Brand Architects, a strategic design and storytelling firm, and IQOQO, a digital platform connecting creative and cultural sector professionals across, Art Exchange: Moving Image programme combines mentorship, skills development, and curatorial experimentation across African and UK contexts.

Up to six curators will be selected to participate in a structured, year-long programme that offers personalised mentorship, professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and a fully funded research trip to the UK. Participants will gain access to moving image works from the British Council Collection and receive financial and logistical support to develop and present a final exhibition in their home country.

As part of the programme, the participants will

  • Join a cohort of 6 peer curators from across the continent
  • Work with an internationally recognised public art collection
  • Participate in an online programme: receive bespoke mentoring and professional development and support from industry leaders 
  • Residency: attend a fully funded research trip in the UK in May 2026 (provisional dates 15 – 25 May 2026)
  • Showcase: receive a grant to deliver an exhibition and programme for their local audiences, of artworks from local artists and the British Council Art Collection. (subject to approved proposals and due diligence checks) 
  • Engage: alongside their exhibitions, each curator will deliver a public programme or workshop element for and inclusive of the local artistic community (e.g. artists, practitioners, venues)
  • Network and collaborate: build their networks across Sub-Saharan Africa and with artists and peers in the UK

Applicants must:

  • Be 18+
  • Be based in: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda or Zimbabwe
  • Not be enrolled in full- or part-time formal education
  • Be an early to mid-career visual arts curator (see definitions below)
  • Be proficient in English
  • Have a demonstrated interest in working with the moving image
  • This programme is not open to artists
  • Currently hold a valid passport, valid until 30 November 2026 
  • Be available to travel to the UK in May 2026  (provisional dates 15 – 25 May 2026)
  • Be available to make a UK visa application (with support) between February and April 2026

Curators can mean: exhibition-makers, producers, practitioners, programmers who work in the visual arts space. i.e. Visual Arts practitioners, artists and designers who have put together displays, exhibitions, representations and/or convenings around the work of other visual artists for an audience.

What do we mean by Early-career curators

You should have:

  • A relevant degree or equivalent experience
  • Experience working with artists on commissions, productions or exhibitions
  • Contributed research, organisation or administrative support to an exhibition, public programme or arts publication

What do we mean by Mid-career curators

You should have at least one of:

  • Professional experience as a visual arts curator
  • Led at least one high-profile exhibition with significant press coverage
  • Conducted research or critical study on visual arts practice

Participants must commit to:

  • Attending monthly online sessions (Feb 2026 – Mar 2027)
  • A one-week research trip to the UK (approx 15 -25 May 2026)
  • Developing a detailed exhibition proposal after the residency week
  • Delivering an exhibition and supporting public programme in their home country taking place between late 2026 and March 2027
  • Fulfilling British Council grant agreement, monitoring and evaluation requirements

Your initial proposal (max 2 A4 pages) may be indicative and can evolve during the programme.

Projects must include moving image works from the British Councils Collection. Please see link HERE a list of the moving image works from the British Council Collection available for this programme. You can explore the British Council Collection Collection HERE

Projects must include a public programme/ workshop element alongside their exhibitions for and inclusive of the local artistic community e.g. artists, practitioners, venues.

Complete the Online Application form HERE

When submitting the online application form you will need to upload:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Curatorial proposal (max 2 pages)
  • Signed letter of support from your proposed exhibition host venue

You will be asked to answer the following questions on the online form:

  1. Why do you want to participate, and how will it support your professional development? [350 words]
  2. Describe your curatorial experience. [350 words]
  3. Who is your proposed host venue, and why do you want to work with them? [350 words]
  4. Do you require access support? If yes, please outline your needs. (Your response is not assessed as part of your application, this is for planning purposes only, to inform additional support required for successful applicants)
  • Maximum 10 minutes (panel will view only the first 5 minutes)
  • .mp4 or .mov, max 20MB
  • Must answer the same questions as outlined above, clearly stating each question before your response

You must still submit:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of support from your proposed exhibition host venue
  • Completed Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form

We welcome applications from D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent individuals. There is a dedicated section in the form to indicate any access requirements and we will work collaboratively with selected participants to ensure full participation.

Deadline: Sunday 18 January 2025 at 11:59pm GMT+2

Applications will be assessed on eligibility and quality of responses — not writing style or production quality by a panel from Breinstorm Brand Architects, IQOQO and the British Council. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an informal online interview and all applicants will be notified of the outcome by the first week of February 2026. Due to the high number of applications, we will not be able to provide individual feedback for unsuccessful applications.

Have any questions?

Online information sessions will be held on Friday 14 December 2025 and Wednesday 14 January 2026, at 12:00 UTC. To attend the sessions sign up HERE.