Curator Bank
An in-kind mentoring initiative supporting artists in the South West.
Curator Bank offers artists one-to-one conversations with curators working across organisations in the region, creating space to discuss work, test ideas and support the development of practice. The programme also strengthens connections between artists and curators, building relationships across the South West’s visual arts network.
Curator Bank is made possible through the generosity of curators and partner organisations who contribute their time in-kind. Participating curators bring a wide range of experience including exhibitions, engagement, education, public art, museums and working with young people. Each open call includes a guest curator from outside of the South West region.
Curator Bank was established by VASW in partnership with The Burton at Bideford, building on an original idea by curator Gilly Fox.
It's always a privilege to gain insight into different artists’ practice, at all stages of their career. Curator bank provided opportunity to do this with managed expectation through a framework independent of my organisation.
Curator participant
Curator Bank 2026
The second round included 34 Curators from 25 organisations offering 63 artists mentoring sessions. Along with VASW's in-kind investment this equates to over £20,000 of in-kind support.
Partners: Arnolfini, Aspex, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, b-side, The Burton at Bideford, Dorset Visual Arts, Exeter Phoenix, Field Art Projects, Focal Point Gallery, Ginkgo Projects, Harbour House, John Hansard Gallery, KARST, Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAAM), Royal West of England Academy (RWA), Somerset Art Works, Spike Island, Studio KIND, Super Culture, Tate St Ives, The Box, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, University of Exeter, Visual Arts South West and Yeovil Art Space.
Guest curator: Claire Feeley, Head of Contemporary Visual Arts, Focal Point Gallery.
It felt surprising that such a simple idea had not been carried out before, but I very much appreciate it relied on the generosity of VASW to organise and curators to give their time. It made the idea of reaching out to curators - something that has felt difficult and mysterious - a lot more normal.
Artist participant
Curator Bank 2025
In 2025, Curator Bank was made possible by the generosity of 37 curators and 22 partner organisations across the South West, who committed their time in-kind for meetings with 144 artists. This equates to over £38,000 of in-kind investment.
Partners: Arnolfini, Art Centre Penryn, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, b-side, The Burton at Bideford, Exeter Phoenix, Ginkgo Projects, Harbour House, The Holburne Museum, John Hansard Gallery, Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, Plymouth Culture, Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, Royal West of England Academy (RWA), Studio KIND, Super Culture, Tate St Ives, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, The Sherborne, Tate St Ives, University of Exeter, and Watershed.
Guest curator: Gilly Fox, Associate Curator Hayward Touring.
