Focal awards: art history, visual arts and creative practice

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is offering funding to UK research organisations to recruit and train doctoral students through a doctoral focal award in art history, visual arts and creative practice. This funding opportunity aims to unlock the potential of art history, visual arts and creative practice by capitalising on opportunities to exploit new technologies and contribute to the cultural and creative sectors. The programme will support up to 30 studentships per award over three cohorts, with the first cohort starting in October 2026. Each proposal must demonstrate an innovative approach to doctoral training and professional development, while increasing representation of students from underrepresented groups. The focal award will create opportunities for innovation across art history, visual arts, and creative practice, producing a cohort of students equipped to contribute to UK growth, address skills gaps in interdisciplinary approaches, and foster deep connectivity with creative industries, museums, galleries and heritage organisations. AHRC seeks to support two awards that are heavily collaborative, involving a strong core of partner universities with outreach to a wide range of non-HEI partners. Students will have access to specialist collections, archives and facilities that enable research and professional practice, and will be part of a vibrant culture developing candidates as disciplinary leaders and cross-sector innovators.