Graduates and alumni
Our degree programmes have produced a number of high-achieving graduates, many of whom have gone on to outstanding international careers in the arts, journalism, auction houses, curating, and academia.
I am at present the Director of the Fort George Museum, Vis, Croatia. The museum was officially opened in 2013 and my role has been to source and procure the material to create a standing collection as well as organise the Summer Exhibitions. This year the museum had the pleasure of welcoming a number of Second World War veterans to the opening of this year's Summer Exhibition, 'Vis and the Second World War in the Adriatic'.
Prior to Croatia, I worked for a specialist cultural travel company, researching and composing itineraries or museum patron groups and private clients. I have also worked as a guide in Istanbul and Greece, teaching the subjects of Byzantine art and architecture.
My undergraduate studies at the University of Manchester equipped me with the knowledge base and research skills that have been vital for me to progress in the commercial and academic world of art history. The tutors and teaching staff were exceedingly supportive throughout my studies and encouraged me to pursue the subject to a Masters level at the Courtauld Institute of Art, which I graduated from in 2008. The wide range of resources available to undergraduates at the University of Manchester and the opportunity to regularly meet with academic staff one on one created a positive and focused environment in which to study and one I am grateful to have had the opportunity to experience.
Rebecca studied History of Modern Art (2003).
Rebecca is responsible for commissioning and writing articles and publishing online editorials. She is also involved in organising events and conferences for the Museums Association, as well as devising input for larger shows and exhibitions.
"My degree sparked an interest in learning, art, and social history, which I have never lost. I can’t emphasise enough how important curiosity is for an art historian and a journalist."
After graduating, Rebecca took time to gain experience in a number of sectors to improve her employability options. She soon secured a role as a personal finance journalist, which enabled her to further develop her strong writing and analytical skills. It was through this experience and the skills she acquired that led to her current position.
For Rebecca, her degree helped her initially establish the skills needed to develop her career.
"My degree has helped my progression chiefly because it has provided a strong foundation on which everything else has grown."
Lindsey studied MA Art History and Visual Studies (2006).
Lindsey lives and works in New York where she is a Senior Appraisal Associate. Lindsey uses a number of factors, including the marketplace, law and public opinion, to make evaluations used for insurance, estate management or calculating charitable giving contributions.
Lindsey also works part-time as an online instructor at the Academy of Art University, facilitating discussion groups, tutoring students and grading student submissions.
Lindsey attributes many of the skills she uses in her current role to her time in Manchester.
"This job requires refined research and writing skills - both of which I learned at Manchester."
For Lindsey, originally from the US, her time at Manchester proved to be a fantastic experience that allowed her to develop more than just academic skills.
"I look at my time at Manchester fondly - not only did I receive a world-class education, I also made lifelong friends. Manchester offers an urban university setting where you are able to be completely immersed in the experience of your education."
As Head of Careers at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Diana brings over two decades of dedicated careers experience in the commercial artworld, having lived and worked in both London and New York.
Holding a degree in Art History from The University of Manchester and a Masters from the Courtauld Institute of Art, she began her career at the leading London art appraisal and advisor group Gurr Johns before moving to the prestigious modern art dealer, The Mayor Gallery in Cork Street.
In 2007, Diana co-founded TAG Fine Arts, the London-based contemporary art dealer and publishing house, where she continues to serve as a private client advisor. For the past 15 years, she has successfully operated her own art consultancy business working on both sides of the Atlantic, specialising as a fully qualified art appraiser, advisor and curator.
Diana is a Trustee of the Jon Schueler Foundation and a member of Association of Women in the Arts and the Association of Art Historians. She actively contributes to the arts community as a careers mentor to emerging arts professionals and is a member of the Arts Emergency Network.
Miriam found a space in which she could explore her practical and theoretical understanding of visual culture, and its place in forming societies across the world.
"Through my studies on the Art History programme, I found a space in which I could explore my practical and theoretical understanding of visual culture, and its place in forming societies across the world.
"The course's partnerships with Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth, and an extraordinary trip to Paris, meant that I got to see precious artworks very close up with the aid of passionate lecturers and expert curators. Indeed, I'll never forget the opportunity to present a talk on Paris' Pantheon outside and within the actual building, an exciting experience that was a catalyst for my passion of engaging audiences in histories and interpreting our world that has been a main drive in my post University career.
"My lecturers found ample opportunities for me to gain crucial work experience during my studies, and I was fortunate to have been accepted for the Peggy Guggenheim Internship. A summer working in Venice afforded me the luxury of getting to know the city well, and to spend hours at the Guggenheim in the company of great masters, and a vibrant community of interns from all four corners of the world.
"Networks I built on the course in Manchester's close knit and welcoming cultural institutions have been the foundation stones of my current career. Building on the practical and theoretical understanding I forged during my undergraduate degree, I went on the complete a Masters in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, worked at the John Rylands Library, and am now an Assistant Curator at the Science Museum in London."
Clare talks about how she immediately felt at home and found the breadth of subjects was eye-opening,
"I originally trained as an illustrator, so had an arts background, but had always been interested in art history. I began my degree course in 2003, and immediately felt at home. The breadth of subjects was truly eye-opening, and I was studying things that I had never even considered before. I learned about so many different periods and genres: from medieval tomb sculptures to the historical avant-garde, from modern architecture to performance art. I loved the course, and I also loved living in Manchester – it’s a wonderful place to live and study.
"My lecturers were inspiring, and were hugely supportive when I decided to continue my studies. I developed a particular interest in sculpture and installation art, and went on to do a Master’s degree followed by a PhD. As well as the academic side of university, my studies gave me a number of valuable opportunities to gain experience of researching and curating exhibitions, including working on the Subversive Spaces exhibition at the Whitworth. Since then I have been involved in curating other exhibitions, including No Particular Place to Go? at the Castlefield Gallery.
"After finishing my PhD I took up a temporary teaching post in the Art History Department, and ended up staying for several years. I am now about to take up a new post as Research Curator at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, a role that combines academic research and exhibition curating in my specialist subject of sculpture."
- Oliver Barker - Sotheby’s, Senior International Specialist Contemporary Art
- David Bellingham - Sotheby’s Institute, London
- Adam Chodzko - Contemporary artist, showed in 'Sensation'
- Melanie Clore - Co-Founder, Clore Wyndham Fine Art (formerly Chairman, Sotheby’s Europe)
- Lily Dunn - Journalist and novelist
- Alex Garland - Novelist
- Waldemar Januszczak - Art critic, television presenter
- Samantha Lackey - Head of Collections and Exhibitions and Senior Curator, Whitworth Art Gallery
- Debbie Lewer - Lecturer in Art History, University of Glasgow
- Honey Luard - Artist Liaison, White Cube
- David Morris - Curator, Whitworth Art Gallery
- Robert Mills: Professor, University College London
- Gavin Parkinson - Professor, Courtauld Institute of Art
- Darren Pih - Exhibitions Curator, Tate Liverpool
- Richard Pomeroy - Artist
- Rick Poynor - Writer, lecturer, and curator
- Elisabeth Reissner - Lecturer in Conservation, Courtauld Institute
- Chrissie Shearman - Founder, Christina Shearman Art Advisory
- Josephine Berry Slater - Editor of 'Mute'
- Stephen Snoddy - Director, The New Art Gallery, Walsall
- Robin Vousden - Senior Director, Gagosian Gallery
- Simon Wallis - Director, Hepworth Museum, Wakefield
- Richard J. Williams - Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures, The University of Edinburgh