An empowering force for UK HE Creative Education: Catalysing Change
As the UK seeks to drive economic growth, regional renewal and opportunity for all, creative education remains undervalued despite its significant impact. Building on the momentum of Navigating Change (2026), the conference is a call to action: to strengthen our collective voice, redefine our purpose and position creative higher education at the forefront of change.
Freelands Foundation champions art education.
The Foundation believes in the intrinsic value of art and that making is fundamental. Its vision is to increase the status of art education, enable equality of access and promote material literacy.
The Foundation supports this important work in formal education settings, in galleries and art organisations, and by learning through artistic practice. Its charitable programme provides vital funding through grants, awards, fellowships and residencies. It also commissions innovative action research to inform the Foundation’s future support and to help make progress across the sector.
The Freelands Studio Fellowships, established in 2021, is a partnership with UK based universities, providing artists with teaching experience while supporting the development of their creative practice. The fellowships are built on the belief that by building a co-learning relationship, teaching and making art can strengthen one another and benefit both artists and students.
