NSEAD Awards 2026

Continuing the National Art & Design Education Conference theme of Creative Curriculums: Care, risk and courage, the day provided an opportunity for connection, creativity and celebration.

As NSEAD CEO Michele Gregson said in her conference opening on Thursday 18 June, '[NSEAD] know that it can feel like the education system is a hostile place at times. The reason we know this is because we are a trade union, and we see our members at some of their most vulnerable times and hours. But I firmly believe the pendulum is starting to shift. So, I want to bring you a message of hope. And we bring you conference and conversations that we hope are going to embolden you, empower you, and give you strength.'

The NSEAD Awards celebrate the strength of our members; their care; their passion; their resilience; and their creativity. These awards recognise individuals, schools and organisations who have championed our subject, challenged boundaries, inspired change and demonstrated innovation within the sector. Thank you for helping us raise the profile of our community, our subject and its learners.

We would like to extend special thanks to our headline sponsor for the Awards, Specialist Crafts, for their generous support for the Awards ceremony, prizes for our winners and gift bags for every attendee. We were delighted to announce that Specialist Crafts will be working with us as our Community Growth partner, working with us to develop NSEAD’s regional hubs.

We would also like to thank award sponsors Art UK and RBO Schools for their support and recognition of the great practice that these awards celebrate, and to The National Gallery learning team for hosting us at the Roden Centre for Creative Learning.

And last, but definitely not least, thank you to this year’s judging panel – Andy Ash, Faith Bebbington, Tina Corri, Emily Gopaul, Mary Myatt, Neil Pinder and Christopher Samuel – for kindly giving their time and careful consideration to all the nominees.

Left: Exterior of the Roden Centre for Creative Learning, at The National Gallery.

Right: Specialist Crafts gift bags and Summer Gathering attendees, including Dr Claire Penketh (R) who was awarded Senior Fellowship of NSEAD for her work as Principal Editor of the International Journal for Art & Design Education.

2026 Award Winners

Sophie Ascough | The Big Landscape Award for innovative curriculum design | Sponsored by Royal Ballet & Opera Schools

Jade Alana Ashton | Workplace Champion Award

Kathy Coates-Mohammed & Stephanie Bartholet (Shape North) | Community Luminary Award

Kevin Dalton-Johnson | President's Award for exemplary practice

Lansbury Lawrence Primary School | Patron’s Empowering Change Award

Nitya Paul | Patron’s Empowering Change Award

Nicola Smith | Workplace Champion Award

Clare Stanhope | Community Luminary Award

Ian Thompson | Learning Innovations Award | Sponsored by Art UK

2026 Award winners each received a certificate; a signed art print, All schools should be art schools, by Bob and Roberta Smith; a £100 gift voucher for Specialist Crafts; and one year’s free membership to NSEAD.

NSEAD Awards - Winners, at the National Gallery (20 June 2026).

L-R: Clare Stanhope, Nitya Paul, Kevin Dalton-Johnson, Stephanie Bartholet (Shape North), Nicola Smith, Sophie Ascough, Kathy Coates-Mohammed (Shape North) & Kerri Sellens (Lansbury Lawrence Primary School).

2026 Highly Commended

NSEAD Awards - Highly Commended recipients, at the National Gallery (20 June 2026).

Left: NSEAD CEO Michele Gregson speaking at the NSEAD Awards 2026 ceremony (20 June 2026).

Right: Certificates and prizes.

NSEAD President Andy Ash closed the day with some thoughts to carry with us into our summer break, and back into classrooms and studios in September:

‘The people we are celebrating here are not simply doing excellent work in their own classrooms, schools, communities and institutions. They are contributing to something bigger. They are helping all of us understand what quality in art and design education looks like. They are sharing practice. They are creating possibilities for others. They are helping us collectively build a stronger future for the next generation of learners.

So, today is not simply about recognising individual achievement. It is about recognising the power of collective contribution.’ 

Left: NSEAD President Andy Ash speaking at the NSEAD Awards 2026 ceremony (20 June 2026).

Right: 'NSEAD Believes in You' postcard - send a little belief to someone who needs it.

All photography by Dan John Lloyd (2026).