Each day will feature a mix of talks and workshops to help aspiring curators to understand the sector and the skillset needed by those wanting to establish their curatorial careers. Through talks and workshops, our guest speakers will discuss:
- The Role of the Curator – why is this role important and what does a curator do?
- Exhibition Planning – when should your planning begin? A step-by-step guide to making sure your exhibition is a success.
- Working with Technicians – a look at how a gallery technician complement the curator’s work and the practical steps of exhibition installation that a curator should consider.
- Working with Artists – how to collaborate with an artist and help them express their vision within an exhibition.
- Using new platforms to reach audiences – how can curators engage with digital platforms to expand the impact of their exhibitions?
Talks and Workshops include:
Exhibition Development at Waterside
Galleries curator Michelle Keeling and Archivist and curator Rosy Whittemore sit down for an informal panel talk on how they have developed their own curatorial careers. They also discuss how to approach Waterside for exhibition opportunities and provide a practical guide to how they work with the venue team in developing the galleries programme.
Beyond the Exhibition with Michelle Collier - talk and workshop
Expanding engagement through digital storytelling
Join writer, artist and narrative designer Michelle Collier in exploring how digital tools can open up new ways of experiencing collections through play, participation and storytelling.
Drawing on projects across AR, VR, games and digital co-creation, Michelle will share examples and insights from her own work and creative collaborations with curators and communities alike. As well as sharing her thoughts on how projects like this can connect with young and underserved audiences.
Following a talk and Q&A, the session will conclude with a hands-on creative challenge, inviting you to experiment with your own ideas for an interactive or immersive exhibition.
Exhibition Design on a Budget with Johnny Billinge - talk and workshop
Tips and tricks from an experienced exhibition designer and gallery technician on how to bring an exhibition together on a tight budget. Where are the best resources for curators - print, frames, plinths and more? Johnny provides insights and guidance on how to make the most of a limited budget. The second part of this session includes a practical workshop to help participants think through the process of putting together their own exhibition on tight funds.
Developing A Curatorial Career with Matthew Pendergast
Matthew will discuss his role as Head of Programming at Castlefield Gallery, which has been a home for contemporary art and artist development for over 40 years. He’ll also provide insights and guidance for how to develop a curatorial career, how curators work with artists to devise exhibitions and how a curator can play a role in developing an artist’s career.
CuratorSpace - talk with Hayley Mills Styles
In this talk, Hayley will share insights from her dual role as artist and administrator, offering an overview of CuratorSpace’s tools and how they support curatorial work. She will also discuss developing and sustaining a curatorial practice, building long-term relationships with artists, and using open calls to attract applicants, including their benefits, challenges, and best-practice approaches.
Reflections
Each day also closes with a Reflections session where participants and speakers can discuss informally what’s been shared, as well as practical tips to help further develop each participants’ own next steps as curators.
About The Speakers
Matthew Pendergast
Matthew works with regional, national and international artists at all stages of their careers. He regularly provides artist mentoring and has appeared on various judging panels. He has an MA in Contemporary Curating from Manchester School of Art and in 2023 attended the London Critical Theory Summer School at Birkbeck University.
https://www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk/staff/matthew-pendergast/
Michelle Collier
Michelle is a writer, artist and digital maker based in Manchester, UK. Her work spans scriptwriting, immersive experiences, short fiction, games and XR, illustration, print, experimental poetry and more. She worked with the British Museum, on BBC Civilisations and the Imperial War Museum.
Johnny Billinge
Johnny is a multi-disciplinary artist, gallery technician and exhibition designer. He has worked on exhibitions for many high profile projects, including Manchester Central Libary, Manchester Art Gallery and the recently opened Cosgrove Hall Films Archive in Sale.
Hayley Mills-Styles (CuratorSpace)
Hayley Mills-Styles is a freelance textile artist specialising in community-engaged practice and storytelling through textiles. She has worked with CuratorSpace as an artist for many years and, since 2025, has also been part of the team as an arts administrator, supporting the directors in the day-to-day running of the platform.
Waterside Galleries Team
Michelle Keeling (glass artist and curator, Waterside) and Rosy Whittemore (archivist and curator, Cosgrove Hall Films Archive) will also feature throughout the two days, discussing their work at Waterside, working with collections and the process of managing large scale exhibitions.
Attendance Bursary
A limited number of free places are available for this Development Scheme for participants facing economic hardship.
To apply for a free place, please send an email to [email protected] with ‘Curator Development’ as the subject.
Please make sure to include up to 200 words about your creative practice and a further 150 words as to why you are applying. Please include any relevant links showcasing your creative and / or exhibition work.
