WAYS OF SEEING

• Region: London
• Type: Conference
• Cost: Free

• Date: Saturday 21 November
• Location: The National Gallery, Sainsbury Wing Theatre
• Registration from 10.15am
• Start time: 11am
• Close: 3.30pm
• Free, in person event

Ways of Seeing, the Association for Art History’s annual one-day conference for A-Level students and teachers takes place at The National Gallery on Saturday 21 November, 2026. The event is unique in its focus of bringing together students and teachers of History of Art and Art and Design.

This year, artist Jeremy Deller joins us to explore our theme of Conflict, and the tensions that shape human experience. Whether political or personal, public or private, conflict has long been a powerful catalyst for artistic expression. Through a series of talks by leading artists, curators, and art historians Ways of Seeing 2026 will examine how artists and art historians have grappled with conflict across time and place, and how art can offer new perspectives on some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Free tickets and travel

Since 2013 Ways of Seeing has received support from The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars to offer 100 free tickets for teachers and students at state-maintained schools who wish to attend the event.

This year, thanks to the generous support of the Bukhman Foundation, all other tickets are also free, and we will reimburse reasonable UK travel expenses. Please book your travel as early as possible and keep your receipts.

To be reimbursed for travel, you must submit an expense form. Schools should submit one expense form detailing how many train tickets they are requesting reimbursement for, the school’s name, and the train station(s) they are travelling from. 

Individuals booking must also submit an expense form.

Please read our full FAQs and download an expense form here.

Any questions, please email: Christina@forarthistory.org.uk

PROGRAMME

10.15 – 10.45  Registration, Sainsbury Wing Lecture Theatre

11.00 – 11.15: Welcome and Introduction

Gregory Perry, CEO, AAH 

Christina Bradstreet, Head of Programmes, AAH

11.15 – 11.45: Jeremy Deller,Artist

11.45 – 12.00: Caro Howell, Imperial War Museum 

Capturing Conflict: The role of art at IWM                          

12.00 – 12.15: Articulations Prize winner

12.15 – 12.30: Q&A   

12.30  – 12.40: Introductions from university students 

12.40 – 13.50: Lunch

13:30 – 13.50: Meet undergraduates studying art history from a range of UK institutions 

13.50 – 14.35: Undergraduates complete self-led gallery activity              

13:50 – 14:35: Teacher’s CPD session

Clore Art Studio, Roden Centre for Creative Learning

14:40 – 15:00: Richard Stemp, Art Historian, Educator 

Was Michelangelo Gay? Outer Confidence and Inner Conflict 

15:00 – 15.20:  Neal Shasore, Art and Architectural Historian and former Head of School and CEO of the London School of Architecture (Talk title tbc) 

15:20 – 15.30: Q&A

Supported by: