Wolverhampton Art Gallery has been selected as one of three inaugural winners of the Freelands Awards 2026, receiving £100,000 in recognition of its progressive art education approach.
The gallery was chosen for two projects: MORE ART INC and ArtForum, both delivered as part of its Arts and Culture Youth Programme. The programmes work with young people to build skills and careers in the creative industries, using the gallery's collections and temporary exhibitions as inspiration.
The Burton at Bideford in North Devon and SIGNAL in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, are the other two winning organisations, each also receiving £100,000.
About the Freelands Awards
The Freelands Awards recognise visual art education work across the UK. Judges included Dr Henry Ward (Artistic Director, Freelands Foundation), broadcaster and writer Gemma Cairney, artist Joy Gregory, curator and writer Jenni Lomax, and art historian and educator Dr Ben Street.
Following an open call, judges visited organisations in person before selecting the winners. Dr Henry Ward said: "All three demonstrate innovative, collaborative approaches to visual arts education, working closely with their local communities, responding to the specific places in which they are situated, and creating programmes where everyone is learning."
Next steps
The three winning organisations will collaborate with Freelands Foundation on case study films to share their art education work as a resource and inspiration to other organisations in the sector.
