2016 – How was it for you? #7: Stephen Snoddy, Director, The New Art Gallery Walsall

What kind of a year has 2016 been for you?
Professionally, started off being wonderful with the Mat Collishaw exhibition and then became difficult and challenging. Personally and family-wise great, and with my own work had a successful show in Brussels.

What has changed for the better and what, if anything, has changed for the worse?
It’s been a funny old year, who could have guessed Leicester winning the Premiership and Trump becoming president elect. For the better, I forget about everything when I am in the studio; and for the worse, I forget about nothing when I am out of the studio.

What do you wish hadn’t happened this year?
Brexit: I was born in Northern Ireland, my mother was born in France and my grandmother was born in Austria – I am European!

What do you wish had happened this year, but didn’t?
Mat Collishaw winning the Turner Prize.

What would you characterise as your major achievement this year and why?
Helping my son through a difficult year and coming out the other end with our relationship stronger.

Is there anything you’d like to have done this year but haven’t?
Had a decent two-week break to completely chill out.

What would make 2017 a better year than 2016?
Securing the future of The New Art Gallery Walsall.

thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk

Images:
1. Stephen Snoddy, director, The New Art Gallery Walsall
2. Eva Rothschild, ‘Alternative to Power’, (installation shot), The New Art Gallery Walsall, 24 September 2016 – 15 January 2017.
Photo: Robert Glowacki
3. Eva Rothschild, ‘Alternative to Power’, (installation shot), The New Art Gallery Walsall, 24 September 2016 – 15 January 2017.
Photo: Robert Glowacki

Watch out for more in our ‘2016 – How was it for you?’ series & catch up with what we’ve published so far by using the #hwify2016 tag

More on a-n.co.uk: