Bukhman Foundation announces £3 million commitment to New Curators

We are pleased to announce a landmark £3 million, three-year gift to New Curators , supporting its continued work in expanding access to curatorial education and strengthening pathways into contemporary art practice.

Now in its third year, New Curators has established itself as a transformative force in the sector, with a year-long training programme for aspiring curators from structurally disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Prioritising international exchange and collaboration, the programme combines academic seminars, skills training sessions, networking and visits, mentorship and coaching with real-world curatorial experience.

Each year, the programme culminates in a major exhibition curated by New Curators fellows at a London institution. Accompanied by a publication and public programme conceived and delivered by the fellows, these exhibitions foreground innovative contemporary artists while providing a platform for curatorial development and meaningful public engagement.

Many of the alumni have progressed to roles across leading cultural institutions, commercial galleries and private foundations. Others are developing independent curatorial practices in the UK and internationally, reflecting the programme’s growing reach and impact.

This commitment from the Bukhman Foundation will enable New Curators to continue supporting and platforming emerging curators, while further expanding the reach and international profile of its programmes.

Our co-founder, Anastasia Bukhman said: “Access to careers in the arts and culture sector is still far from equal. That disparity has real consequences for how art reflects the present and imagines the future. New Curators is addressing this challenge in a thoughtful and practical way, opening doors for talented young curators and helping to shape the future of contemporary art. The Bukhman Foundation is proud to support an organisation that invests in people and in the long- term cultural infrastructure with such clarity of purpose.”

About New Curators
New Curators is a London-based, paid year-long curatorial training programme for aspiring contemporary art curators from structurally disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Founded in response to the unequal distribution of access to curatorial careers, the programme addresses the structural barriers that shape entry and progression within the field, including unequal access to education, professional networks, financial resources, and exposure to the arts.

Combining academic seminars, skills-based training, mentorship and coaching, visits and networking opportunities, and the collaborative development of an exhibition, publication, and public programme, New Curators equips emerging curators with the knowledge, experience, and professional networks needed to enter the profession and sustain long-term careers in the contemporary arts sector.

Images

Installation View, Firelei Báez, Sueño de la Madrugada (A Midnight’s Dream), South London Gallery, 2024. Photo: Above Ground Studio.

New Curators Fellows, 2026. Photo: Ruth Samuels.