Diversifying Curatorial Stewardship (DCS) is Dance Umbrella’s major multi-year initiative (2026–2028) designed to transform curatorial leadership within the UK and international dance ecology.
With a steering group of national and international partners — Dance East, The Lowry, Fabric International and Aerowaves – together, we are invested in building a more diverse and equitable curatorial landscape in dance across the UK and internationally.
DCS responds to a clearly evidenced sector gap: the absence of visible, supported career pathways for curators — particularly Black/Brown Global Majority, predominantly female identifying and non-binary practitioners — and the resulting lack of diversity within those who shape artistic programmes, narratives and decision making.
DCS aims to create structural, long term change by widening who curates, how curation is practiced, and who has access to networks, resources and influence. The programme builds on Dance Umbrella’s sector facing research (2023/24), which identified five recurring barriers to diverse curatorial leadership: lack of pathways, undervaluing of lived experience, unequal access to networks, freelance precarity, and limited spaces for honest dialogue about power and representation.
The following appointments for practitioners (artists, producers, curators) will support the transformation:
Guest Curator roles: one in 2027, two in 2028 — each with hands-on curatorial experience at either nottdance (Nottingham), Lowry (Salford) or Dance East (Ipswich) and Dance Umbrella (London).
Two Curatorial Fellows — one in 2027, one in 2028 — embedded in the Dance Umbrella festival cycle, will develop their practice and expand their professional networks.
DCS is supported by Arts Council England, British Council, Backstage Trust and The Performing Arts Fund NL.