Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art Partnership Studentship
This studentship will provide the successful applicants with an opportunity to undertake a placement at MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) during its exciting hosting of the Turner Prize 2026.
Applications for 2026/27 are open until Tuesday 1 September 2026, 12pm BST.
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) is an international art gallery and museum that commissions, collects, and re-thinks modern and contemporary art. It is known globally for artistic excellence, innovative research and civic engagement. MIMA hosts a mix of permanent collection displays and changing exhibitions, showcasing work from the mid-1800s to the present. In 2026, MIMA will host the Turner Prize, one of the world’s preeminent prizes for contemporary art.
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art Partnership Studentship contact details
History of Art Postgraduate Admissions Team
Marjorie Coughlan
history-of-art@york.ac.uk
Eligibility
Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.
Open to students in the Department of History of Art.
Open students on MA in History of Art (Curating) course.
How to apply
Application deadline: Tuesday 1 September 2026, 12pm BST
Please submit your CV and a personal statement of no more than 800 words which explains your interest in, and suitability for, this partnership opportunity.
Please email your CV and personal statement to history-of-art@york.ac.uk by the deadline, with ‘MIMA MA Placement Application’ as the subject.
Students are welcome to apply for multiple studentship opportunities, on the understanding that they are unlikely to be appointed to more than one placement.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in the week commencing 7 September 2026.
Terms and conditions
The successful students will spend Fridays for a total of c. 15 weeks on placement at MIMA during semesters 1 and 2, between October 2026 and the end of March 2027.
The placement days will be fast-paced and public facing, allowing students to get involved across MIMA’s programme including Front of House, wayfinding, supporting visitors, learning programme and more, engaging in particular with the Turner Prize exhibition.
Train travel will be provided, organised and booked by the Department of History of Art.
The student view
Margot Miltenberger, previous recipient of the MIMA Partnership Studentship, enjoyed the opportunity the placement gave her to direct her experience based on her own interests.
What did your work at MIMA entail?
My role at MIMA was adaptable, but mostly involved researching material for the upcoming exhibition. This included collaborating on an interactive digital tool for the public and researching material for display. I also had various tasks surrounding the permanent collection, such as a location audit and gathering material for an upcoming collaboration with Art Weekender.
What experiences would you say have been most useful or unexpected?
I most appreciated the flexibility of the team at MIMA – while I had plenty to do, I was always encouraged to take part in any public events, linger over community lunches, and observe the many aspects of putting on an exhibition. Participation in meetings and miscellaneous tasks allowed me to get a feel for the many roles within an art institution. The most unexpected thing was how excited I was to see the exhibition opening – I had no idea how thrilled I would be to see the public interacting with material I’d helped put together!
Who did you work with, and how did the institution make use of you?
I primarily worked with the curatorial team, but had the opportunity to direct my experience based on my preferences. I did a significant amount of research for the upcoming exhibition, which included many independent hours as well as collaboration with another student and the assistant curators.
I was lucky enough to see my project through to the end – helping display the material I’d gathered, witness the exhibition coming together and celebrate its opening. I also helped with various tasks as they arose – such as organising commission documents, using the TMS database for a location audit, helping return a loan, and assist with the set-up of a new app.
What do you value most about your experience with the institution?
I most appreciated being allowed to experience the whole process of an exhibition. From researching, to the hands-on work of putting it up for display, to hearing the artists describe their work on the exhibition opening day. The whole experience gave me such respect for the work and detail that goes into producing an exhibition.
How has your work with MIMA enhanced your studies at York?
My time at MIMA gave me the hands-on, practical experience of putting to work the theory and knowledge that my modules offered. Interacting directly with art objects was especially fun, as well as hearing artists describe their own work directly.
Do you feel it has been helpful with career planning or improved your job prospects, and if yes, how?
Definitely – even simple things like knowledge of TMS and experience handling loans is something I’ve since seen required on job applications. But more importantly, it gave me the opportunity to observe and experience many of the roles within an art institution and determine whether I would enjoy or be suited to any of them.
Would you recommend it to future students?
Absolutely. My time spent at MIMA was never a detraction from my time studying and was even a welcome balance during the early days of developing my dissertation. If only to see if it’s not for you, it’s a very unique opportunity, fun and inspiring!
Read about the experiences of other previous recipients of the MIMA Partnership Studentship: