Morley Gallery showcased in Art Fund’s “Expanding Horizons” campaign

Morley Gallery is featured in the film for Art Fund’s campaign ‘Expanding Horizons’, highlighting the work of museum and gallery professionals across the UK who bring exhibitions to life. 

The work of Morley’s Gallery Exhibitions Officer, Melissa Baksh and Morley Gallery feature in a campaign video which has been shared with Art Fund members across the UK.  

About Art Fund

Art Fund is the UK’s independent charity for art, helping museums and people to share in great art and culture for 120 years. The charity supports museums and galleries to acquire and share exciting works of art, to connect with their communities, and to inspire the next generations. As part of their work to support UK museums and galleries, the Expanding Horizons campaign aims to raise at least £700,000 in 2025 to support projects and opportunities that support a diverse and skilled museum workforce .

Watch the Expanding Horizons campaign video here and learn how Art Fund aims to support the future of museums and galleries. 

Meet Melissa!

The Artfund campaign video features Melissa Baksh, Morley Gallery and Exhibitions Officer, who spoke to us about her career development opportunity supported by Art Fund and her working life at Morley Gallery.

Melissa, tell us about the Art Fund campaign and curators programme you attended with the Art Fund?

“It was a pleasure to be recently featured in Art Fund’s Expanding Horizons campaign. In October 2023 I took part in Art Fund Curator’s Programme at Frieze Masters, in collaboration with Frieze and the National Gallery. The programme brought together five UK-based curators from regional museums alongside five National Gallery curatorial fellows and trainees. Over the course of two days, we explored the dynamic relationship between historical art and contemporary practice with workshops, roundtable sessions, key note speeches and tours of Frieze Masters and National Gallery exhibitions. This was a really valuable opportunity to come together, share ideas and network with other curators and museum professionals.

What is your role at Morley College London and what do you most enjoy doing?

I am Gallery and Exhibitions Officer at Morley, and I develop and deliver exhibitions and displays in the Morley Gallery and Morley’s teaching centres. One of the best things about being a curator at Morley is the diversity of practices I encounter and work with – from painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles and more. I have also had the opportunity to work with some fantastic artists and estates, such as Maggi Hambling, Tadek Beutlich and Jane Joseph. . I also manage the Morley Gallery Volunteers, a diverse group individuals with a united interest in art and exhibitions. We train volunteers in a range of skills, from installation techniques to curating and digital skills.

In the video you mention your passion for art. What have been some of the exhibition highlights?

A personal highlight was curating ‘embodied’ (October 2023) which brought together sculpture, painting, drawing, installation and film by six women artists of colour – including renowned sculptor Sokari Douglas Camp. We installed Douglas Camp’s ‘Asoebi’ sculptures on the traffic island opposite the gallery, culminating in a wonderful public art display. The exhibition was also featured in The Art Newspaper during Frieze week – the busiest week in the art world – which was a proud moment indeed! 

What are 3 best reasons I should visit Morley Gallery?

People should come and visit the Morley Gallery – which reopened after full renovation in 2021 – as it is a brilliant display of the talent, creative skill and community that Morley has to offer. Exhibiting a great variety of work by students, staff, alumni and external artists, there is something at Morley Gallery for everyone to enjoy. The floor is pretty great, too!”

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