Leading better practice for art, craft and design educators across the UK.

Our annual conference brings together art educators from across the UK, from all phases and sectors engaged in art, craft and design education. A key event in your calendar, the conference is your opportunity to keep up to date with the latest developments for our subject, connect with others and exchange ideas.

Creative Curriculums: Care, risk and courage

Creative bravery is central to art, craft and design education. As teachers of art, craft and design we navigate risky territories of practice. We encourage our learners to take creative risks, experiment, think critically, face challenging issues and be comfortable with uncertainty. How do we ensure that we are able to nurture creative courage, whilst maintaining our classrooms and studios as safe spaces for us and our learners? And we ask, how might our subject help us preserve our health and well-being in the face of societal and global challenges.

This conference invites us to consider creative, personal and professional risks that we encounter in our practice as educators, and the ways that we can navigate them with care and confidence.

The programme combines inspiring presentations with the latest research and information to help you and your learners. Workshop sessions will provide an active space for you to develop your own professional practice, with learning that you will take directly back to the classroom and studio.

Double the celebration: The conference will be followed by the NSEAD Summer Gathering & Awards 2026 ceremony on Saturday 20 June, at The National Gallery’s new Roden Centre for Creative Learning in London. Delegates have the option to join us for one, or both days.

Early bird registration (until 20 April 2026)

The conference is open to both members and non-members of NSEAD.

NSEAD Members: £10.00 - £20.00

The annual conference is a key NSEAD member benefit, included in your subscription: members are only required to pay a nominal registration fee of £10 for the conference, and receive discounted rates for the summer gathering.

Non-members: £18.00 - £143.00

Register today