Classics researcher Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson MBE has been recognised with one of the field’s top national honours.
Arlene has received the 2026 Classical Association Prize.
It is awarded each year to recognise outstanding contributions to the promotion of Classics in the UK and given to the person who has done most to raise the profile of Classics in the public eye.
Arlene’s work focuses on widening access to Classics in schools, prisons, museums and communities.
Her award means that Durham is the only university to have two female winners of the prize after it was previously awarded to Professor Edith Hall in 2023.
This is a significant achievement for Durham and reflects our strong commitment to making the study of Classics more inclusive.
Arlene leads many projects that bring Classics to new audiences.
One example is the Advocating Classics Education project which, since 2017, has increased the number of young people studying the ancient world at GCSE and A Level by more than 30%.
Through teaching and outreach, the project now offers prisoners the chance to study Classics.
This helps to build their confidence, communication skills and find their purpose.
Feedback has been universally positive, and the project has attracted national press attention.
To support the project’s future, a public fundraising campaign has been launched to secure long-term funding for teaching Classics in prisons.
Arlene is currently contributing to a cross-government project exploring the key factors that influence and shape the future of childhood in the UK.
As the first Humanities scholar to be seconded into the Government Office for Science as an Expert Secondee, she is bringing interdisciplinary insights.
She acts as expert advisor to three All-Party Parliamentary groups and currently holds British Academy funding to explore how young people can contribute effectively to policymaking.
Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Parkyn, Partnerships Officer for the Classical Association, presented Arlene with her award at a ceremony in Manchester, UK, and said: “Arlene has reshaped how we think about Classics, not as an exclusive discipline, but as a dynamic, inclusive, and socially meaningful field that can change lives.
“Her work has strengthened its place in schools, universities, and public discourse and has demonstrated its enduring value in shaping both individuals and society.”
I am delighted to receive the Classical Association Prize 2026. The success of my Classics research, outreach and engagement projects is the result of long-term collaborations with talented and mission-driven colleagues in schools, universities, policy communities, assessment organisations, subject associations, museums and charities. This prize recognises our collective impact, and gives us renewed momentum to open up Classics, engaging new audiences and inspiring future generations
Main image shows (left) Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Parkyn, Partnerships Officer for the Classical Association, presenting Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson with her prize.
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