The Council for Higher Education in Art & Design
CHEAD is the association of educational institutions with degree or postgraduate provision in art and design.
About CHEAD
CHEAD provides a voice for and on behalf of higher education art and design in the UK four nations advancing knowledge and understanding in the sector and promoting the sector’s interests to others. We carry out research, scan the policy horizon, brief our members, facilitate networking opportunities for senior staff from within and outside HE as well as helping to shape higher education art and design policy on our members’ behalf. We facilitate specialist internal networks supporting art and design research leaders, Subject Associations, and HE gallery leaders.
Members
Art & design graduates each year
Value of research income in millions
Climate Justice: Decolonising Decarbonisation series
This series of creative and critical encounters brings together artists, designers, media makers and educators, including those from the Global South to ask, how might transformative pedagogies and anti-racist practices help integrate regenerative ecologies and restorative justice?
Focus on Programme Leader
Tuesday 25 October, 9.30am – 14.30pm
The Leadership Programme of seminars has been running for many years and is intended to support the development of the current and next generation of academic leaders in our sector. It is aimed at people such as Programme Leaders, Associate Deans and Heads of Department.
Technical Alliance Facing the Future: Identity, community, responsibility
Wednesday 20th July 2022, 9am – 5pm
This event will bring members of the CHEAD Technical Alliance together for the first time. There will be an opportunity for you to meet other technical specialists within your discipline and a chance to network and share experiences.
Latest News & Resources
Wales Contemporary is calling for entries
The international art competition Wales Contemporary is calling for entries via walescontemporary.artopps.co.uk Wales Contemporary is an international art competition putting Wales at the centre of the art world. It invites artists from around the world to enter...
Cultures of Place
Cultures of Place, a new festival programme from the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield. Working in collaboration with Temporary Contemporary and Kirklees Council to deliver a range of events drawing on research from across the school...
Call for applications to convene the 2023 CHEAD Annual Conference
We are inviting CHEAD member institutions to submit applications to convene the 2023 CHEAD Annual Conference. The CHEAD Annual Conference is a popular, member networking event, offering a platform for CHEAD member representatives to come together around a live sector...
Members’ Gallery
Higher education art and design sits at the heart of the UK’s world leading creative industries. Visit our gallery to view more work produced within CHEAD member institutions.
In addition, we run a network for staff from CHEAD member galleries. Find out more information about the network.









Member Profiles
Newcastle University
Our reputation is built on world-leading teaching, alongside world-leading research, disseminated in the form of publications, exhibitions, installations and interventions.
Leeds School of Arts
Leeds School of Arts, with a history that spans over 170 years is united by a common goal: to encourage individuality, to inspire creativity, and to create impact.