I offer a wealth of experience working with contemporary art and artists at the highest level, curating programmes and exhibitions, fundraising from public, charitable and private sources, managed complex development projects, patrons programmes, strategic and business planning, day-to-day operations and board liaison, media, public speaking and writing.
As Curator of Contemporary Art at Tate Britain, I curated numerous exhibitions and projects, including Turner Prize, ‘This Was Tomorrow: Art & the 60s”, Solo exhibitions, the Art Now series celebrating early career artists, Commissions and Collection displays and acquisitions. During my 14 years at Tate, I gained extensive experience as a media spokesperson for the arts, as well as working closely with the Learning and Development departments.
In 2000 I co-founded Drawing Room – now Europe’s leading centre exploring and celebrating the language of drawing – with Mary Doyle and Kate Macfarlane. This world-renowned institution offers free exhibitions, a dedicated research library and study and engagement programmes. I sit on the board of Tannery Arts, the non-profit organisation to which it is affiliated, also providing affordable studios to artists.
I have considerable experience in Cultural regeneration, and Place-based strategies through my work as co-chair of South East Creative Economies Network (SECEN); my advisory role within Southend as a founder member of the Southend Culture and Creative Network (SCCN), and Advisory Board member for Creative Estuary, member of East Contemporary Visual Art Netork (EVAN), and Plus Tate.
As Head of Programme at the Institute of Contemporary Arts – ICA, I oversaw a pioneering multi-disciplinary programme including curating individual exhibition with artists such as Sonia Boyce, Richard Hamilton and Betty Woodman. As Deputy Director, I was responsible both strategic planning and day-to-day operations – from gallery, cinema, shop and events space to fundraising and finance – working closely with the ICA Board.
As Director of Essex’s renowned Focal Point Gallery (FPG), I delivered a programme of three major exhibitions a year featuring both international and local contemporary artists, including Elsa James, Liz Magor and Rosa Johan Uddoh – as well as an ambitious programme of workshops, talks, outdoor film screenings and offsite projects. I was responsible for strategic direction, business planning, successful Arts Council NPO applications and other fundraising together with finance and team management.
As a freelancer, I have delivered the first contemporary art programme for the National Maritime Museum at the turn of the millennium, commissioning bespoke artworks for the new galleries from artists such as Tacita Dean, Bill Fontana and Stefan Gec; I ran The Tannery, an independent gallery based in Bermondsey Street associated with artist studios; I managed the exhibition programme for the Economist building a plaza in St James on behalf of the Contemporary Art Society, and have assisted at the Whitechapel Gallery and the Biennale d’Arte in Venice.
Have a project in mind?
Katharine Stout Arts Consultancy 