Deadline: January 18, 2026
The Art Exchange: Moving Image Programme 2026 is a prestigious year-long curatorial development initiative designed to support early to mid-career visual arts curators from Sub-Saharan Africa who are working with moving image practices. The programme offers professional development, mentorship, international exposure, and financial support to realise curatorial projects within participants’ local contexts.
The Art Exchange: Moving Image Programme 2026 creates opportunities for curators to expand their practice, build international networks, and contribute meaningfully to contemporary moving image discourse across Africa and the UK.
Programme Overview
The Art Exchange: Moving Image Programme is a curatorial-focused professional development programme, not an artist residency. It is specifically structured for curators who demonstrate a strong interest in working with moving image as a medium and who wish to develop innovative exhibition and public engagement projects.
The programme combines:
- Online training and workshops
- One-to-one mentorship
- Peer exchange across Sub-Saharan Africa
- Access to international collections
- Support to deliver a final moving image exhibition in the participant’s home country
Who Can Apply
Applicants must meet all the following eligibility criteria:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically in one of the following countries:
Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zimbabwe - Be an early to mid-career visual arts curator (artists are not eligible)
- Demonstrate a clear interest or experience in moving image curation
- Not be enrolled in any full-time or part-time formal education programme
- Be proficient in English
- Hold a valid passport that remains valid until at least 30 November 2026
- Be available to travel for a fully funded research trip to the UK (provisionally scheduled for 15–25 May 2026)
- Be able to apply for and obtain a UK visa with programme support
What the Programme Offers
Up to six selected curators will benefit from the following:
- Participation in a pan-African cohort of curators specialising in moving image
- Tailored mentorship and professional development support
- A structured online learning programme
- Access to works from the British Council Art Collection
- A fully funded research residency in the United Kingdom
- Financial and logistical support to curate and present a final moving image exhibition in their home country
- Support to deliver a public programme or workshop engaging local artistic communities
- Long-term network-building opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK
Required Application Materials
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Curatorial Proposal (maximum of 2 pages)
- A signed Letter of Support from a proposed host venue in the applicant’s home country
Optional Submission
Applicants may also submit a video application (maximum of 10 minutes) responding to the application questions.
Note: The CV and letter of support are still required even when submitting a video application.
Application Deadline
🗓 18 January 2026
🕛 Deadline time: 23:59 (GMT+2)
Late applications will not be considered.
Why Apply for the Art Exchange: Moving Image Programme 2026?
This programme offers a rare opportunity for curators to:
- Develop international curatorial practice
- Gain exposure to global moving image collections
- Strengthen local exhibition infrastructures
- Build sustainable professional networks
- Present ambitious, context-specific moving image projects
Need Support With Your Application?
We provide professional support services for applicants, including:
- Curatorial proposal drafting
- Proposal refining and editing
- Application review and feedback
👉 Contact us for proposal drafting, refining, and review support to strengthen your application and improve your chances of success.
