Art Teachers Connect Wins Prestigious International InSEA Advocacy Award for Organizations
Art Teachers Connect has received an international InSEA Advocacy Award for Organizations.
With members in over 82 countries, InSEA is a non-governmental organisation and official partner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Its purpose is to promote and advance education through art, design and crafts in all countries, in addition to nurturing intercultural understanding.
It was founded under UNESCO in 1954 by art historian Sir Herbert Read. At the time, Read spoke of his belief that “creative activity is a basic need common to all people” and he argued that “the universal language of artistic expression is a striking demonstration of our common humanity and it should be nurtured and explored through educational means”.
The newly introduced prestigious Advocacy Award for Organizations will be presented every two years to a member organisation who supports the mission of InSEA – the encouragement and advancement of creative education through art and crafts in all countries and the promotion of research and praxis about art education to foster international understanding.
The InSEA Advocacy Award for Organizations was presented to Art Teachers Connect (ATC) at an award ceremony on the 22 July at InSEA’s annual congress in Olumouc, Czech Republic, and accepted on ATC’s behalf by their Vice President, Susan Coles.
On 9 September Susan handed over the Award to Rachel Prosser, Learning Manager of the PMC and Abigail Harrison Moore, Professor of Fine Art and Museums Studies in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds, as joint leaders of the programme.
They received the prize as an acknowledgement for the innovative work done to provide continuing professional development and support to art and art history teachers – to empower them to become strong confident advocates for art and art history and to diversify and widen participation in the creative subjects and creative careers.
Susan Coles, Vice President of InSEA, said:
“We are excited to have awarded this year’s InSEA Advocacy Award for Organizations to Art Teachers Connect.
“InSEA promotes and supports art education across the globe. We are interested both in why we teach art and how we teach art – and we feel that it is a mandatory part of every person’s education. It is part of the United Nation’s charter on children’s human rights.
“The awards are presented every two years so that they can be given out at Congress. An open call is put out to all six regions of the organisation, with members being asked to put forward nominations. This year a number of regional organisations were nominated for the Advocacy Award, which were considered and judged by a committee.
“Winning this international award enables the work of ATC to be seen by lots of people globally, as a model for art education that other people might be able to build upon or follow.”
Abigail Harrison Moore, Professor of Art History and Museum Studies at the University of Leeds, said:
“On behalf of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and Educational Engagement at the University of Leeds, we are utterly delighted to be accepting the international InSEA Advocacy Award for Organizations
“In collaboration with the Paul Mellon Centre, Art Teachers Connect has been a programme that’s right at the heart of what we believe is our mission, but also what has been our mission as an art school since it was established by Herbert Read over 70 years ago.
“Read was a student himself at the University of Leeds. Yorkshire born, he graduated in 1911, and then fought in the First World War.
Reflecting on his experience of this and the Second World War, he published Education for Peace in the same year as he founded our school (originally called the Department of Fine Art) in the early 1950s. His ethos and philosophy of art education still informs our work to teach and research art as a “social medium that is vital to humanity”.
“So it is such an honour to receive this award from InSEA, an organisation established by Herbert Read in 1954 with a mission that speaks to what we aim to achieve through Art Teachers Connect – specifically around the social practice of art history.
“Everybody in the world has a right to an art education. InSEA was set up just after the two world wars as part of UNESCO’s global mission “to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture.”
“Today, amidst global conflict, it’s never been more important to empower our educators, our teachers, to feel confident to speak with young people across the UK, through art and through our history about the importance of critical thinking and collaboration. Winning this award couldn’t come at a better time.
“We are really grateful that an organisation that we really respect in turn has respected the work that we do to change and support teachers teaching.
“And, in turn, to support over 49,000 pupils a week across the UK who benefit from being taught by these amazing art teachers through Art Teachers Connect.”
Rachel Prosser, Learning Manager for the PMC, said:
“Building and supporting a community of over two hundred teachers across the UK with the University of Leeds is one of the most impactful elements of the Paul Mellon Centre’s work towards ensuring all young people throughout the country have the opportunity to engage meaningfully with art and culture.
“Our community of teachers work tirelessly to provide their students with the space, time and confidence to express themselves and pursue creativity, professionally or personally. In turn, we are proud to take care of them and provide them with a network of support where they can exchange skills, experiences and encouragement.
“The Art Teachers Connect Residential is our first step in bringing teachers into this community, and each year it is a joy to witness teachers from all sorts of teaching environments sharing and learning from each other. The residential’s workshops and activities are just the beginning of our journey with these teachers, and we are excited to welcome another twenty-eight individuals to our community this year.”
For more information about Art Teachers Connect please visit the programme’s dedicated website: atcuk.org
The next opportunity to join the Art Teachers Connect community will be at the Residential programme in July 2026. Applications open in January 2026.