History and Mission Statement

The first Cubitt exhibitions were organised by studio holders whose ambition was to show work by their peers amid a conservative London gallery scene. As artists took on the role of curator, the Gallery established itself early on as an alternative to the institutional system and became a place to challenge dominant curatorial practices. In the mid-nineties Cubitt began to invite outside curators to organise exhibitions. Since 2001, with Arts Council England funding, Cubitt has pioneered a highly successful bursary scheme model for emerging curators, renamed Cubitt Curatorial Fellowship in 2015. Bursary holders programme exhibitions at Cubitt over an 18-month period with total artistic freedom, nurtured by and in conversation with Cubitt members and staff.

Mission Statement

Cubitt is an artist-led co-operative built on a belief in the value of art and artists in society. Cubitt enables contemporary visual arts practice to thrive as a critical, peer-led activity. This is achieved through the provision of co-operatively run studios in central London and unique development opportunities for curators interwoven with curatorial and artistic programmes, driven by an engagement with learning, participation and the social possibilities for art.

Our aims:
To provide the conditions in which excellence in the visual arts can emerge and thrive
To test models of curating and arts education
To take risks and challenge public and professional perceptions of what constitutes contemporary visual culture
To critically and practically foreground the role and responsibilities of curatorial practice
To stimulate and encourage high-quality critical debate in the contemporary art press
To empower excluded groups and individuals through high quality practice-led engagement

Our objectives:
To provide an independent exhibitions and events space which establishes a vibrant environment for creative practice and dialogue
To develop mutually enriching partnerships with similar organisations regionally, nationally and internationally
To profile emerging artists in a productive and critical context, commissioning new work where possible
To provide a platform and development/learning opportunity for curators at the start of their careers
To support young and emerging artists through affordable studio space
To provide arts-based skills training, enriching events and activities in partnership with schools and community centres
To provide training for artists to develop their skills and experience in participatory and educational settings