Established in 1989 as the National Association for Gallery Education, Engage represents gallery and visual art education professionals working in galleries, visual arts organisations, artist studios, schools and the community across the UK and over 20 countries worldwide.

As the UK’s most effective support and advocacy organisation for gallery education, we support and work with our members to promote inclusive access to the visual arts for the benefit of broad and diverse audiences.

We achieve this through:

Advocacy

Engage works to influence policy in the visual arts, to raise the profile of the profession within and outside the sector, and secure resource for gallery and visual arts education.

Activity

Engage champions diverse education practice; runs ground-breaking projects and programmes; promotes learning through artworks, artists, museums and galleries and above all encourages everyone to get involved in the arts.

Professional development and leadership

Engage conferences, seminars and events disseminate the latest sector research and policy, providing affordable opportunities for colleagues to network and share practice.

The cross-arts Extend leadership programme supports leadership progression for education and learning colleague.

Networking

Engage provides a platform for education professionals working within galleries, museums, heritage venues, schools and other community venues to meet and connect through Area Group meetings, Engage events and the Engage website.

Support

Engage enables members to share ideas, experience and resources online and in person, to receive support and advice on practical and professional issues and stay up-to-date with sector news and opportunities.

Information

Engage works with members and sector colleagues to publish the Engage Journal, toolkits, briefing notes and research findings, and communicate the latest news and opportunities through the Engage website and regular e-bulletins.

Research

Engage’s research programmes provide valuable evidence for advocacy, broaden gallery education practice, and inspire professionals to gain support and funding for their own projects.