Call for The Art Exchange: Moving Image Program 2026 is open now!!!
Art Exchange Moving Image is a collaborative, cross-cultural curatorial development program 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 program focuses on building curatorial confidence, fostering critical dialogue, expanding international networks, and supporting curators to realize moving image exhibitions in their local contexts. The first iteration of Art Exchange: Moving Image ran in 23-25.
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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, the Art Exchange: Moving Image program 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 program that offers personalized 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.
Rather than a typical residency for artists to create new work, Art Exchange is a professional development journey for the “thinkers” and “organizers” behind the art. It focuses on the professional bottleneck often faced by curators who have established themselves locally but lack the institutional infrastructure to engage with high-level international collections. By facilitating an exchange between Sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom, the program fosters a “global-local” dialogue. Selected participants are encouraged to dive deep into the British Council’s archive—a collection that spans over 80 years of art history—and find ways to make those works resonate within their own local communities and contemporary social contexts.
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The program mission extends beyond the immediate exhibition cycle. It is built on the belief that art can be a tool for “cultural diplomacy” and social repair. By supporting curators in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana, the program helps build a sustainable network of professionals who can advocate for the importance of media arts. The 2026 iteration emphasizes themes like identity, inclusion, and the “radical imaginary,” encouraging curators to think about how moving images can move across borders to challenge monolithic narratives.
Ultimately, Art Exchange: Moving Image is about capacity building. It seeks to equip curators with the confidence to lead high-profile projects, the technical knowledge to handle complex media formats, and the network to sustain a career in the global art market. Through this year-long engagement, the program aims to elevate the standard of moving image curation, ensuring that the vibrant stories and visual experiments of both local and international artists find the sophisticated, thoughtful platforms they deserve.
Location:
OnlineBenefits
- The participants will Join a cohort of 6 peer curators from across the continent
- The participants will Work with an internationally recognized public art collection
- They’ll participate in an online program: receive bespoke mentoring and professional development and support from industry leaders.
- The participants will attend a fully funded research trip in the UK in May 2026 (provisional dates 15 – 25 May 2026)
- They’ll receive a grant to deliver an exhibition and program for their local audiences, of artworks from local artists and the British Council Art Collection. (subject to approved proposals and due diligence checks)
- Alongside their exhibitions, each curator will deliver a public program or workshop element for and inclusive of the local artistic community (e.g. artists, practitioners, venues)
- The participants will build their networks across Sub-Saharan Africa and with artists and peers in the UK.
Eligibilities
- The applicant must be 18 years or older.
- The applicant must not be currently enrolled in full-time or part-time formal education.
- The applicant must be Early to mid-career visual arts curators (includes exhibition-makers, producers, and programmers). Practicing artists are not eligible.
- The applicant must be proficient in English.
- Must hold a valid passport, valid until 30 November 2026.
- Must be available to travel to the UK in May 2026 (provisional dates 15 – 25 May 2026) and be available to make a UK visa application (with support) between February and April 2026.
Application Process
- Complete the Online Application form.
- 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
- All Documents and form must be in English.
Application Deadline: January 18, 2026 (5 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
