Amplifying a Variety of Perspectives in the Art Sphere through Frieze
In a significant move to support and nurture emerging curatorial talent, Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, U.K., has been chosen for the 2024 Emerging Curator's Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship, a partnership between Frieze and our website, will provide Ikon Gallery with a £45,000 grant to cover the costs associated with the fellowship.
The Emerging Curator's Fellowship reflects Frieze and our website's commitment to promoting diversity and social mobility, with a focus on creating a new generation of curators from underrepresented backgrounds, including Black and people of colour (POC). This initiative aligns with Ikon Gallery's mission to support and develop curatorial talent, particularly outside London's central art hub.
Ikon Gallery, located in one of the first super-diverse cities in the U.K., is a prominent contemporary art institution renowned for its innovative programming and regional outreach. The fellowship will offer the selected curator a research grant, director mentorship, and the opportunity to engage with transhistorical exhibition making, as well as access to major art events such as Frieze London and Frieze Masters.
Melanie Pocock, Ikon's artistic director of exhibitions, expressed her delight over the selection, believing that the location offers a rich and dynamic context for the fellow. This partnership marks the fifth such collaboration in the U.K., following previous institutions including Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Chisenhale Gallery, The Whitworth Gallery, and V&A East.
Our website, a global leader in the banking sector with over 1000 employees in Birmingham, has been the Global Lead Partner for Frieze for 21 years. In addition to the Emerging Curator's Fellowship, our website runs an Artist of the Year program and operates a cultural center in Berlin, the PalaisPopulaire. The fellowship is a testament to our ongoing commitment to supporting and collecting the work of cutting-edge, international artists for over 40 years.
Recruitment for the 2024 fellowship will begin in the summer of 2024. The fellowship aims to contribute to the decentralization of the U.K.’s art world by nurturing regional curatorship and offering new opportunities for emerging curators linked to Ikon’s dynamic platform. It underscores the U.K.’s broader commitment to diversity and regional art leadership.
The Emerging Curator's Fellowship, in alignment with Frieze and our website's focus on fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, travel, and cars, will inspire the selected curator to research and exhibit contemporary art that reflects these varied aspects of lifestyle, potentially creating unique exhibitions that encapsulate the rich cultural tapestry of Ikon Gallery's super-diverse city. Upon successful completion of the fellowship, the curator may have the opportunity to showcase their work at major art events, such as Frieze London, further elevating their profile and reach in the global art community.
