The announcement of this award today, on Thursday May 15th, represents a significant milestone for the GSA, offering strong recognition of its Exhibitions programme and providing funding for an ambitious two-year initiative: the Jerwood Curatorial Fellowship at The Glasgow School of Art. As part of this fellowship, emerging curators will develop proposals for two exhibitions.
The first exhibition—launched with an open call in August and scheduled for 2026—will present a dialogue between artworks from both Jerwood Collection and GSA’s Archives & Collections. The second exhibition will invite a fresh curatorial perspective on historical works from Jerwood Collection.
The Jerwood Curatorial Fellowship at The Glasgow School of Art aims to amplify diverse voices by offering early-career curators in Scotland their first supported opportunity to present work within a major institutional context. Each Fellow will be granted a dedicated research period and access to a production budget to realise an exhibition at The Reid Gallery at the GSA. While there are existing support systems for emerging artists, structured and paid opportunities for emerging curators remain scarce. This Jerwood Curatorial Fellowship directly addresses that gap.
Professor Penny Macbeth, Director and Principal of The Glasgow School of Art, says:
“Jerwood Foundation and The Glasgow School of Art both hold influential and significant collections, and I am delighted that through the support of the Foundation, emergent curators studying at The Glasgow School of Art will now be given access to Jerwood’s extensive collection to research, develop new perspectives, and present these through a public exhibition.
The funding and access to the Foundation’s unique assets, alongside those available at the GSA, demonstrate a real partnership between Jerwood Foundation and The Glasgow School of Art, coming together to develop innovative ways to support excellence and develop the future cultural and creative leaders alongside wider public benefit. It is a significant commitment that will have a demonstrable impact for emergent curators and Glasgow’s global position as a leading centre for contemporary art production and exhibition.”
“We are delighted at The Glasgow School of Art to receive funding from Jerwood Foundation.” says Jenny Brownrigg, GSA Exhibitions Director.
“This formalises work we have already begun in supporting emerging curators in Scotland. The Jerwood Curatorial Fellowship creates a significant opportunity to respond to collections in a unique way, and to stage an exhibition in the Reid Gallery as part of the Fellowship.”
Lara Wardle, Executive Director and Trustee, Jerwood Foundation says:
“Embarking on this new partnership with The Glasgow School of Art underlines Jerwood’s commitment to supporting excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK. Jerwood Curatorial Fellowship at The Glasgow School of Art will provide valuable and unique opportunities for two early-career curators to research and work with Jerwood Collection and GSA Collections to develop public exhibitions to be shown in 2026 and 2027.”
For further information please contact press@gsa.ac.uk
About The Glasgow School of Art (GSA):
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading independent university-level institutions for education and research in the visual creative disciplines. Our studio-based, specialist, practice-led teaching, learning and research draw talented individuals with a shared passion for visual culture and creative production from all over the world.
Originally founded in 1845 as one of the first Government Schools of Design, the School’s history can be traced back to 1753 and the establishment of the Foulis Academy delivering a European-style art education. Today, the GSA is an international community of over 3500 students and staff across architecture, design, digital, fine art and innovation in our campuses in Glasgow and Altyre (in the Scottish Highlands) and a thriving Open Studio programme delivering non-degree provision to over 1500 students annually.
About Jerwood Foundation
Established in 1977 for John Jerwood MC (1918-1991) by Alan Grieve CBE, Jerwood Foundation is a UK charity committed to supporting excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK. Alan Grieve was appointed Chairman Emeritus in 2023, and at this time Rupert Tyler was appointed Chairman. The organisation is led by Lara Wardle, Executive Director and Trustee and to date Jerwood Foundation has committed over £112 million to support the arts in the UK.
Jerwood Foundation owns the Jerwood Collection of modern and contemporary art, and an important part of Jerwood’s philanthropic mission is delivered by the Collection through its loaning programme and promotion of a broader understanding, interpretation and enjoyment of art. Also included in the Jerwood group of organisations is Jerwood Space, which was Jerwood’s first major capital project when established by Jerwood Foundation in Southwark in 1998. Jerwood Space is a dedicated rehearsal space providing theatre, musical theatre, opera and dance companies with an outstanding environment within which to create their work.
