Reflecting on the role of the Freelands Awards in championing the importance of art education within the UK’s cultural life. 

This Freelands Awards 2026 winner was selected for its Artist Development Lab – a programme developing artists through workshops, expert mentoring and exhibition making.

This Freelands Awards 2026 winner was selected for its Arts and Culture Youth Programme – inspired by the collection and temporary exhibitions in which participants work with the gallery team to help build skills and careers in the creative industries.

This Freelands Awards 2026 winner was selected for Burton Futures – an outreach programme for schools, featuring a horse box converted into a camera obscura and darkroom that travels to rural schools.

A reflection on the role of the artist in UK art schools as teacher, learner, maker.

Reflections on the value of material exploration in art education projects.

A short-read exploring how artists and artist educators balance their practice with the responsibilities of daily life, through the generative potential of repetition.

A response to the material practice of artist Toby Rainbird during their 2025 fellowship at University of Brighton.

Mapping the different ways learning takes place in artist studios, through the lens of artist anecdotes and archival research. 

A response to the material practice of artist Matthew Wilson during their 2025 fellowship at Falmouth University.

Insights into an action-research partnership programme supporting artists across the UK.

A response to the material practice of artist Kirsty Bell during their 2025 fellowship at Ulster University, Belfast. 

A response to the material practice of artist Jennie Bates during their 2025 fellowship at Birmingham City University.

Reflections from the partnership between Yorkshire Sculpture International and Freelands Foundation. 

A response to the material practice of artist Kelsey Cruz-Martin during their 2025 fellowship at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

A response to the material practice of artist AJ Stockwell during their 2025 fellowship at University of Dundee.

A response to the material practice of artist Désirée Coral during their 2025 fellowship at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

A response to the material practice of artist Marly Merle during their 2025 fellowship at Bath Spa University.

A short essay by writer and curator George Vasey on how artists build resilience, connection and interdependency.

An essay tracing the impact of UK higher education policy and socio-economic contexts' on teaching painting, from the 1950s onwards. 

Excerpts from Jacqueline Donachie and Alistair Hudson in conversation on the possibilities of collaboration between artist and institution, and moving beyond the limitations of ‘art speak’. 

A guide to facilitating experimentation and creative risk-taking within the classroom using 'Which Way is Up?' – a set of playing cards and imaginative prompts designed by Hannah Rennie and Shepherd Manyika with Cement Fields.