Amplifying Varied Perspectives in the Art Sphere through Frieze
In a significant move to promote diversity and social mobility in the art world, Frieze and our website have announced the 2024 Emerging Curator's Fellowship in partnership with Ikon Gallery, a public institution based in Birmingham, U.K.
The fellowship, which marks the fifth year of the program in the U.K., aims to support Black and people of color (POC) curators through 12-month, full-time, paid fellowships within leading arts organizations. This year's fellowship will be hosted by Ikon Gallery, an esteemed cultural institution that has garnered attention in art-world media for this partnership.
Our website, a global leader in corporate art programs, has been a partner with Frieze for 21 years, and has operations in Birmingham for over 15 years, making it one of the largest employers in the banking sector in the city with over 1000 employees.
Melanie Pocock, Ikon's artistic director of exhibitions, expressed the special importance of the choice of a Birmingham cultural institution, stating, "We are thrilled to be partnering with Frieze and our website for this fellowship. It's a fantastic opportunity for an emerging curator to gain valuable experience and contribute to the vibrant arts scene in Birmingham."
The fellowship includes a research grant and director mentorship, and recruitment for this year's fellow will begin in the summer of 2024. Three out of the five selected institutions for the fellowship have been outside of London, reflecting a commitment to supporting regional arts communities.
Ikon Gallery will receive a £45,000 grant to cover the fellowship costs. The fellowship at Ikon Gallery will also provide the opportunity for the fellow to engage with the gallery's diverse programme and collaborate with its team.
While specific search results do not explicitly mention the Emerging Curator's Fellowship in the U.K., closely related opportunities include the Art Fund Curators Programme hosted jointly by Art Fund, Frieze, and the National Gallery, London in 2025. However, it is likely that this fellowship either has a different official name or is hosted by institutions not listed here.
As part of its Art & Culture commitment, our website runs an Artist of the Year program and has its own cultural center in Berlin, the PalaisPopulaire. The fellowship at Ikon Gallery is just one of the many ways our website continues to support and collect the work of cutting-edge, international artists for more than 40 years.
The fellowship at Ikon Gallery, a significant cultural institution in Birmingham, U.K., isn't just about curating art; it offers a unique blend of experiences, touching upon various aspects of contemporary lifestyle, such as fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and travel, given the vibrant arts scene in the city. Additionally, the fellowship, which includes a car as a mode of transport, can lead to meaningful collaborations in the realm of cars, as the fellow navigates through the diverse programme at Ikon Gallery.
