The Inspire Fellowship Programme is a positive action traineeship that aims to diversify the profile of the curatorial workforce in museums and galleries in London.

Why was Inspire launched?

London is widely recognised as one of the most diverse cities in the world and its art scene is regarded as a centre of global creativity. Yet through an unpublished survey in 2005, the Arts Council established that less than 6% of curators in London’s national museums come from a Black or minority ethnic background compared with a proportion of the capital’s population that is currently 29% and rising.
The Inspire Fellowship Programme has been developed to redress this imbalance and create a more culturally inclusive curatorial workforce.

What does Inspire do?

The programme currently runs across the national and contemporary visual arts sector in London. It provides high quality placements in leading galleries and museums and fellows are provided with a substantial package of professional support and development.

So far 11 organisations have participated in the Inspire Fellowship Programme. Fellows have been appointed in two areas: national Fellows at the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, Tate Modern and the V&A in October and November 2005; and contemporary Fellows in May and June 2006 at Barbican Art Gallery, British Council, the Hayward, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Serpentine Gallery and the Whitechapel.

January 2008 saw the launch of a second wave of Fellows spanning national museums and galleries and contemporary visual arts venues.

 How is Inspire supported?

The Inspire Fellowship Programme receives core funding from Arts Council England and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and also from the host venues involved in the programme.

For further information please email the Inspire Programme Manager, Errol Francis.