By Helena E, Year 12

On the 24th September 2024, my Year 12 History of Art class took a trip to Dulwich Picture Gallery for the Art History Futures conference – an interesting event which consisted of three presentations and a panel discussion. I decided to attend this trip because it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about my A Level subject in depth. With multiple chances to engage with the speaker, ask questions and discuss the topic being presented with my classmates in a prestigious environment, this trip taught me how to debate and analyse art in a variety of ways.

Whilst at the conference, I learnt about which artworks Dulwich Picture Gallery specialises in – this consisted of mainly Baroque pieces, as well as discovering how to write a compelling personal statement and what fields of work are open to me based on my A Level choices. The first presentation was led by Assistant Curator Dr Lucy West at Dulwich Picture Gallery, and we were lucky enough to learn the historical context of many artworks for example by the still relatively unknown female artist Mary Beale, as well as other past and upcoming exhibitions. After a short tea break, we continued to analyse an exemplar personal statement – this allowed me to understand how to structure my one in the future, and also know what to include when describing an artwork which inspired me in a relevant, academic format. The day was finished with a panel discussion which touched on the variety of intriguing jobs which are available for Art History students and a speaker from the National Gallery.

Overall, this trip was incredibly fun, as I was able to connect with my class and immerse myself in art from Dulwich Picture Gallery as well as at the conference. It was the perfect balance of laughter and learning, and an incredible opportunity for me to understand Art History at a much deeper level.