Hepworth Wakefield pair share ‘ambitious’ leadership vision

Two senior appointments have been made at the Hepworth Wakefield, as the gallery prepares to mark its 15th anniversary this year.

OLIVIA COLLING, who first joined the West Yorkshire-based gallery as director of communications in 2015, is to become executive director.

She was promoted to deputy director in 2022.

LAURA SMITH, meanwhile, who has served as interim artistic director for the last six months, is to take on the position permanently. She was previously a curator at Tate and Whitechapel Art Gallery.

The pair impressed the board during its international recruitment process with an “ambitious vision” for the gallery that ensures it remains “embedded” in its local community.

STEVE LANGAN, chair of the Hepworth Wakefield Trust, said: “Olivia and Laura brilliantly complement each other’s strengths.

“They demonstrated an ambitious vision for the future of the gallery, supported with a clear strategy for how they will achieve it, and a talent for inspiring their teams. They have proven success at fundraising and growing commercial income, are well networked locally and nationally, and are building the gallery’s reputation
internationally through our expanding touring programme.”

PETE MASSEY, who manages partnerships in the North at Arts Council England,
added: “We’re delighted to hear that the Hepworth Wakefield has appointed Olivia
Colling as executive director and Laura Smith as artistic director.

“Their experience and shared artistic vision offer an exciting future for the Hepworth Wakefield and we look forward to working with them on this new chapter for one of the country’s leading visual arts organisations.”