Cultural Leaders Programme

Apply Now Application deadline – 12 noon Sunday 15 March 2026. This scholarship is open to UK students only. Online Q&A Session for Cultural Leaders Programme Applicants: 1-2pm Wed 18 Feb 2026. To sign up, please email info@cultureand.org with 'Q&A 2026' in the subject line. About the Culture& x Sotheby’s Institute of Art Cultural Leaders Programme Are you looking for a career in the art world? In 2023, Culture& and Sotheby’s Institute of Art launched a new fully funded scholarship programme, designed to empower and nurture the next generation of diverse leaders in the contemporary art world. The Culture& x Sotheby’s Institute of Art Cultural Leaders Programme – the first of its kind in the contemporary UK art world - brings together the considerable experience and cultural networks of the two organisations. Sotheby’s Institute of Art has committed to a 100% fee waiver for three scholarships a year over a three-year period (nine students in total) to enable the scholars to pursue one of the Institute’s prestigious one-year, full-time Master’s programmes:

• Historic Art and Design
• Art Business or
• Contemporary Art

In addition, each scholar receives a £25,000 bursary to cover the cost of living in London so that those selected for the programme can fully focus on the educational experience and benefit from all this opportunity has to offer. These bursaries are funded through philanthropic donations. Further details about the MA courses can be found on the  Sotheby’s Institute of Art website.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art-London – Master’s Open Day

10:15 AM – 2:00 PM, March 7, 2026 We are looking for further bursary support for the 2026/27 cohort and beyond. We are seeking like-minded individuals, foundations and companies who share our vision for creating change in the art world and believe in the necessity of this initiative to help enable the selected Scholars to make the most of the programme. If you are interested in supporting the Cultural Leaders Programme and would like to receive our supporters’ brochure or have a further conversation, please contact Joanna Mills-Foy at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. j.mills-foy@sothebysinstitute.com Donations Thanks We are grateful to the following Founding Supporters who have generously contributed to the Cultural Leaders Programme:

• Law Family Charitable Foundation
• Sotheby’s
• Alain and Vanessa Defise
• Bimpe Nkontchou
• Kymberlie Andrew

Image: Credit Kat Forsyth