Curatorial prize ceremony and panel discussion
- Region: London
- Type: Talk
- Cost: Free
Join us for an evening of lively discussion and celebration, bringing together leading curators for a panel on peer-to-peer partnerships, the AAH Curatorial Prizes 2026, and a drinks reception.
- The Gallery, 70 Cowcross St, London, EC1M 6EJ
- Tuesday 23 June
- 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Free event
Panel Discussion
Curating in Partnership: The Power (and Politics) of Collaboration
What does it mean to curate collaboratively across institutions today—and why does it matter?
Poppy Bowers (Senior Curator, Exhibitions, The Whitworth, University of Manchester) and Priyesh Mistry (Associate Curator of Modern & Contemporary Projects, National Gallery, London) come together to reflect on the growing importance of peer-to-peer curatorial models. Moving beyond traditional institutional frameworks, they will explore how collaboration can shape exhibitions, relationships with artists, and audience engagement.
Priyesh Mistry is Associate Curator for Modern and Contemporary Projects at the National Gallery where he manages an ambitious programme connecting contemporary artists to its historic collections. Previously, he was Assistant Curator, International Art at Tate Modern. He is a member of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the British School at Rome and the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, a Trustee of Studio Voltaire, London, and was a member of the 2025 Turner Prize Jury panel.
Poppy Bowers is Senior Curator (Exhibitions) at the Whitworth in Manchester, where she works across exhibitions, commissions, publishing and acquisitions of contemporary art. Her recent exhibitions include Yuki Kihara: Darwin in Paradise Camp (2025), Barbara Walker: Being Here (2024) and Ayo Akingbade: Show Me the World Mister (2024). She is currently co-curating a new commission by Wangechi Mutu in partnership with the National Gallery that will be presented across 2027-28.
In conversation with moderator Stephanie Straine (Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, National Galleries of Scotland), they will discuss the opportunities and challenges of working across organisations and share insights from their ongoing collaboration with Wangechi Mutu, the National Gallery’s 2026 Contemporary Artist Fellow. This major partnership—culminating in a new commission and a cross-city exhibition presented in London and Manchester in 2027–28—serves as a starting point for a wider discussion on how collaborative approaches are redefining contemporary curatorial practice.
Programme
- 18:00 — Arrivals
- 18:30 — Welcome (Gregory Perry)
- 18:40–19:15 — Panel discussion
- 19:15–19:40 — Curatorial Prizes presentation
- 19:40–20:30 — Drinks reception
AAH Curatorial Prizes 2026
Established in 2021, the AAH Curatorial Prizes recognise the achievements of curators working in public museums and galleries across the UK. The awards celebrate the vital role curators play in generating knowledge, sharing research with diverse audiences, and providing expertise on collections and art history more broadly.
Categories:
- Exhibitions and Displays
- Curatorial Writing and Publications