Sculpture research programme
Henry Moore Institute’s sculpture research programme places sculpture at the centre of current art historical scholarship and actively encourages new research.
At Henry Moore Institute, we pride ourselves on being a hub of contact and exchange, generating and supporting research networks that extend beyond the confines of academia.
Our sculpture research programme operates across disciplines and art forms, engaging with performance, drawing, photography or architecture, or with wider fields such as politics or anthropology.
Research seasons
Each year our research programme is organised into specific areas of enquiry, explored through themed Research Seasons. Each season includes a range of research events, conferences, lectures, film screenings and discussions, designed to showcase new thinking on different aspects of sculpture.
Explore our previous research seasons, and watch recordings of talks, conferences and performances.
See all previous research seasons
Autumn 2024 – Spring 2025:
Beyond the Visual: Blindness and Expanded Sculpture
Upcoming events at Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
Guided tour
Free exhibition tours: Phantasmagoria
11:00 & 14:30
Guided tour
British Sign Language tours of Phantasmagoria
11:00–12:00 & 13:00–14:00
Book your free ticket
Artist in conversation
Folkless Lore and Scraper: Dane Sutherland and Jamie Sutcliffe
14:00–16:00
Book your free ticket
Upcoming events at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
Open archive session
Open Archive: Behind the Scenes Tour
14:00–14:30 & 15:00–15:30
Guided tour
Sculpture Gardens Tour
15:00–16:00
Conference
Recasting Global Modernities and the Making of Shared Worlds: New Perspectives through Henry Moore
Book Now
Open archive session
Open Archive: Behind the Scenes Tour
14:00–14:30 & 15:00–15:30
Research opportunities
Find out how you can get involved with our research programme.
Calls for participation
We regularly invite submissions for conferences and symposiums on a range of sculpture topics.
Our events take place at the Institute in Leeds, Studios & Gardens in Hertfordshire, and with external partner venues.
Recasting Global Modernities and the Making of Shared Worlds: New Perspectives through Henry Moore
Call for participation
Conference, to take place:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Tuesday 22 September 2026
University of Cambridge
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Deadline to apply:
Wednesday 22 July 2026, 17:00
Sculptural Values: Carving, Modelling, Making
Call for participation
Early Career Research Symposium, to take place:
Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
Wednesday 30 September 2026
Deadline to apply:
Monday 3 August 2026, 17:00
Visiting research fellowships
Our fellowships enable artists and researchers to develop their work, spending a month in Leeds using our resources.
The next round of fellowship applications will open in spring 2027.
Dissertation Prize
Open to BA and MA students of all disciplines, each year we award two prizes for outstanding writing on contemporary, modern or historical sculpture.
We’re delighted to announce the winners of our 2026 Prize are Natasha Alexander (York St John University) and Alice Boot (University of Leeds).
Submissions for our 2026 prize will open in autumn.
Our research facilities
We encourage researchers at all levels to seek our advice and make use of our world-class archive, library and sculpture collections in Leeds.
Sculpture Research Library
With more than 30,000 books, exhibition catalogues, journals and audio-visual items, the library is an outstanding resource for studying sculpture.
Archive of Sculptors’ Papers
The working lives of hundreds of sculptors are captured in their photographs, letters, drawings and sketchbooks, alongside film, digital records and even tools and costume.
Leeds sculpture collection
We oversee the development of Leeds Museums and Galleries’ sculpture collections, a partnership that has built one of the strongest collections of British sculpture in the country.
Online research resources
Collaboration is at the heart of our research programme.
We have jointly funded and collaborated in a number of initiatives intended to consolidate primary resources for the study of sculpture.
Essays on Sculpture
Essays on Sculpture is the journal of Henry Moore Institute, tacking a diverse range of subjects, disciplines and styles to investigate the important role that sculpture plays in the world at large.
Visit us
Henry Moore Institute
74 The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 3AH
United Kingdom
T: 01132 467 467
E: institute@henry-moore.org
