Nottingham Contemporary has announced Sam Thorne as its new director, replacing founding director Alex Farquharson.
Thorne will join the gallery from Tate St Ives, where he is artistic director. Farquharson, meanwhile, is about to take up his new role as director of Tate Britain.
In St Ives, Thorne has led on the gallery’s exhibitions, research, learning programme and artist residencies. He is also a visiting tutor at the Royal College of Art, and in 2013 co-founded Open School East, a free to attend art school in East London.
Prior to joining Tate, Thorne was associate editor at frieze magazine where he is still a contributing editor.
Thorne’s background in education will clearly help in his new job. Nottingham Contemporary has an acclaimed education programme that includes a partnership with both The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, and also works with many City of Nottingham schools and community groups.
Thorne said: “I am thrilled to be joining Nottingham Contemporary as director. I look forward to building on the extraordinary programme that Alex Farquharson and the team have developed during the organisation’s first six years, and to helping articulate the next chapter.”
Jack Kirkland, chair of Nottingham Contemporary, said: “I am delighted that Sam Thorne has agreed to become the next director of Nottingham Contemporary. Sam’s vision, intelligence and drive will, I believe, make this a tremendously exciting new phase in the gallery’s history.”
Thorne will take up the new role early next year.
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