Applications open for this year’s Art Teachers residential at the University of Leeds
Art teachers from across the UK are invited to experience what one teacher described as “the best continuing professional development that I have had in 27 years of teaching”.
Art Teachers Connect is a unique programme offering an opportunity for teachers and their schools to improve their delivery of academic and practical art lessons.
This annual programme begins with a free three-day residential which takes place this year from 13 to 15 July at the University of Leeds.
Funded by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, the Art Teachers Residential is a creatively driven, carefully curated programme of workshops and activities designed to engage the talents and experiences of art and art history teachers.
It provides critical advice, insight and experience from current art and art history teachers, academics and arts professionals.
Teachers participate in a workshop at the Art Teachers Connect residential at the University of Leeds in 2025. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
Art Teachers Connect is designed and delivered by academics, education consultants, teachers, colleagues from the Paul Mellon Centre and partner arts organisations.
Participating in the residential enables teachers to:
- engage with pro-active ways to develop their teaching and artistic practice
- build networks, and share ideas and experiences with peers
- improve knowledge on the History of Art A Level
- develop new ideas for planning
- integrate ideas from art by past and contemporary artists into art lessons with confidence
The residential is completely free, with accommodation, catering and refreshments all included.
Creative session in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies as part of the Art Teachers Connect Residential 2024. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
Art Teachers Connect was developed in 2017 to support art and art history teachers from across the UK through providing opportunities for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
This award-winning initiative is run by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and Arts and Humanities Outreach Team at the University of Leeds. It is delivered in partnership with the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.
Attending the residential is the first fundamental step in becoming part of the Art Teachers Connect network. After the residential finishes, participants are invited to become part of an ever-growing community of art teachers.
This includes access to online Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events across the academic year. There is also an opportunity to apply for bursaries to support teacher development and a follow-on Postgraduate Certificate in Developing Teacher’s Research and Practice.
Teachers participating in a Discovery Day with Abigail Harrison Moore on the University of Leeds campus as part of Art Teachers Connect 2025. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
Art Teachers Connect was initiated and is led by Abigail Harrison Moore, Professor of Art History and Museum Studies at the University of Leeds. Abigail said:
“Since starting this initiative to support art and art history teachers in 2017, we have grown and developed in response to teacher hopes and ambitions.
“We are constantly reminded of the pressure on teachers from multiple changes in the UK education system. By joining the residential, teachers become part of a network that now numbers over 230 like-minded teachers based in state schools across the UK.
“This is a powerful community of brilliant educators, who teach art and art history to over 49k pupils a week.
“Our ambition is that teachers leave the three-day residential feeling re-invigorated at the end of a long school year – empowered, confident and re-engaged in their own creativity and their amazing abilities to support young people’s creative futures.
“It is an absolute privilege to lead Art Teachers Connect. I am incredibly grateful to the team in my school and in Educational Engagement, and the Paul Mellon Centre, for their continued hard work to make every residential our best yet!”
Screen printing workshop in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies as part of the Art Teachers Connect residential 2025. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
How to apply
Applications are welcomed from secondary school art teachers in the UK.
Find out more about the Art Teacher Residential including how to apply.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 7 April 2026 at 10am.
More information
For more details, images, films and stories, please visit the Art Teachers Connect website at atcuk.org.
Feature image
Art teachers take part in a session on the theme of ‘care’ at the Art Teachers Connect residential in 2025 at the University of Leeds. Photo by Andy Lord. Image © University of Leeds.
