ICF International Curators Forum

What ICF International Curators Forum does

ICF International Curators Forum is a London-based non-profit founded in 2007 that operates as a catalyst for cultural transformation in the visual arts, with a specific focus on artists and curators from Black and diaspora backgrounds. Its core offering is a portfolio of curatorial programmes rather than a technology product: international exhibition projects (Diaspora Pavilion 2017 and Diaspora Pavilion 2 in Sydney), curatorial fellowships (Emergence(y), Diasporic Animateur), a Living Archives Podcast, conversation series such as Blue Skies and 'Hold the Door', a UK-only online shop selling publications and editions, and a digital archive of conversations, symposiums, and lectures spanning 15+ years. Operations are delivered through strategic partnerships with peer institutions including Ikon Gallery, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Ort Gallery, Iniva, Block 336, Venice Art Factory, and the Barbados National Art Gallery Committee.

The business model is that of a small charitable organisation. Revenue is generated through grants and donations (Arts Council England is a named funder, alongside other institutional donors) and a modest UK-only e-commerce operation for physical goods. Programme delivery is community-led: audiences and practitioners are reached through curated events, fellowships, residencies, symposia, podcasts, and touring exhibitions co-presented with partner venues across the UK, Australia, Barbados, Italy, and Germany. Customer-facing segments split between individual artists/curators served by fellowships and residencies, peer cultural institutions served by co-production partnerships, and the general arts public reached via public programming and digital archive access.

The organisation is led by Creative Director David A. Bailey — the curator of the 1995 'Mirage' exhibition at the ICA — and Head of Programmes Jessica Taylor, who also curates the Diaspora Pavilion projects. Operations run on a headcount of approximately 10 staff from a London office. There is no proprietary technology platform, no software product, and no disclosed AI capability; the website functions as the primary digital surface for content, archive, and e-commerce, and there is no API or app product.

Name

ICF International Curators Forum

Legal name

International Curators Forum

Website

https://internationalcuratorsforum.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICF International Curators Forum is a London-based non-profit founded in 2007 that delivers curatorial exhibitions, fellowships, residencies, podcasts, and an archive focused on Black and diaspora visual artists, curators, and partner cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Curatorial development programs
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Arts nonprofit services
• Cultural transformation advocacy
• Artist fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. E-commerce sales: ICF operates an online shop selling publications, editions, and other items. Revenue is generated through one-time transactions on physical products, with purchases supporting ICF's public and professional development programmes.
2. Donations and charitable funding: ICF is described as a small charitable organisation that raises funds through donations to continue its work. They receive funding from Arts Council England and other institutional funders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICF International Curators Forum is a London-based non-profit charitable organization that delivers curatorial programming focused on Black and diaspora artists and curators. Its offerings include international exhibitions (Diaspora Pavilion and Diaspora Pavilion 2), curatorial fellowships (Emergence(y) and Diasporic Animateur), the Living Archives Podcast, and conversation series, complemented by a small e-commerce shop selling publications and editions.

Product overview

ICF International Curators Forum is a catalyst for cultural transformation in the visual arts, operating as a non-profit cultural organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of curatorial projects, exhibitions, fellowship programs, a podcast series, conversation programs, and an e-commerce shop. Key offerings include the Diaspora Pavilion and Diaspora Pavilion 2 exhibition projects, the Living Archives Podcast, the Emergence(y) Curatorial Fellowships program, the Blue Skies Conversation Series, and the ICF Shop for merchandise and editions. The organization does not offer a software platform or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diaspora Pavilion 2

Quantifiable outcome

• Diaspora Pavilion participating artist Abbas Zahedi credited the fellowship with providing permission and practical support to explore and experiment with his own interests
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Live Art Development Agency (LADA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2015LADA hosted the 'Fanon Now' symposium in 2015 as part of research into the legacy of the 1995 'Mirage: Enigmas of Race, Difference & Desire' exhibition. Discussion event brought together artists from the original Mirage project and subsequent generations.
• Barbados National Art Gallery CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2009Barbados National Art Gallery Committee collaborated with ICF on the Black Diaspora Visual Art programme, presenting symposiums and exhibitions exploring visual art in the Black Diaspora as part of events marking the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
• AICA Southern CaribbeanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2009Collaborated with ICF on the Black Diaspora Visual Art programme alongside the Barbados National Art Gallery Committee.
• 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Diaspora Pavilion 2 exhibitions in Sydney, Australia. ICF collaborated with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art on the exhibition 'I am a heart beating in the world: Diaspora Pavilion 2, Sydney'.
• Campbelltown Arts CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Diaspora Pavilion 2 programming in Sydney, working with ICF on artist participation and exhibition delivery.
• Ikon GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICF partnered with Ikon Gallery in Birmingham to tour the exhibition 'Epiphany (Temporaire)' between 9 February and 21 April 2024. The exhibition was originally commissioned as part of ICF's residency at Block 336 in Brixton.
• Ort GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrt Gallery co-commissioned 'Epiphany (Temporaire)' with ICF as part of the Emergence(y) project for emerging curators. Ort Gallery hosted a residency for curator Orphée Kashala in Birmingham.
• Block 336minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICF conducted a residency at Block 336 in Brixton where 'Epiphany (Temporaire)' was first presented (26 August – 17 September 2023).
• Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaborator with ICF. In 1995, ICF's Creative Director David A Bailey curated the exhibition 'Mirage: Enigmas of Race, Difference & Desire' at the ICA in collaboration with Iniva. Both organisations are listed together in the arts sector ecosystem.
• Faire Monde(s)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaire Monde(s) collaborated with ICF on the 'Hold the Door' event examining Caribbean representation in mega exhibitions, featuring discussions about participation in the 2022 Venice Biennale and documenta 15.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ort Gallery: Birmingham-based non-profit gallery that co-commissioned Epiphany (Temporaire) with ICF. Ort Gallery operates a comparable small-team model focused on emerging and underrepresented curatorial voices in the UK midlands.
• Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts): London-based non-profit visual arts organisation with overlapping mission around diversity, diaspora, and contemporary art. ICF and Iniva co-curated the 1995 Mirage exhibition and remain ecosystem collaborators, making Iniva the closest functional peer.
• Block 336: Brixton-based gallery and project space that hosted ICF's residency for Epiphany (Temporaire). Comparable small-scale London arts venue supporting emerging curators and artists from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Live Art Development Agency (LADA): London-based non-profit focused on live and experimental art practices by diverse practitioners. LADA hosted the Fanon Now symposium with ICF in 2015 and shares a non-profit, mission-driven approach to supporting underrepresented artistic communities.
• 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art: Sydney-based non-profit arts organisation focused on Asian diaspora contemporary art. ICF partnered with 4A on Diaspora Pavilion 2, and the organisations share a diaspora-curatorial mandate and international partnership-driven delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Ikon Gallery: Birmingham-based contemporary art gallery that has toured ICF's Epiphany (Temporaire) exhibition and hosts curatorial residencies. Ikon is a broader incumbent that partners with ICF on programming and serves a comparable regional audience for contemporary art.
• Whitechapel Gallery: Major London gallery with a long-standing programmatic interest in international and diaspora contemporary art. Whitechapel is listed as an ICF collaborator and serves an overlapping curatorial and public audience, though at significantly larger scale.
• Studio Museum in Harlem: New York museum dedicated to Black artists and communities, with a renowned artist-in-residence programme. Shares ICF's mission of supporting Black artists' careers and provides a comparable curatorial-development pipeline in a different geography.
• Sharjah Art Foundation: Major UAE-based arts foundation with a strong record of supporting diaspora and international artists. Sharjah Art Foundation is a listed ICF partner and shares an interest in platforming artists from underrepresented backgrounds across geographies.

Regional players

• Venice Art Factory: Italy-based non-profit arts organisation that supported the original Diaspora Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2017. Operates in ICF's international partner network and shares a diaspora-curatorial focus, though primarily active in the European/Italian context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icf-international-curators-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ICF International Curators Forum