Yorkshire Sculpture Park hires leader ahead of ‘pivotal phase’

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) has named Towner Eastbourne director JOE HILL as its new director and chief executive ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2027.

Marking a ‘pivotal phase’ for the 500-acre park, Hill’s new role will start on 14 April after a “highly competitive recruitment process”.

Originally from Yorkshire and a trained artist, Hill will lead YSP’s next phase of artistic and strategic growth and strengthen its “long-term vision” across the park and indoor galleries.

As director and chief executive of Towner Eastbourne art gallery, Hill won Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2020 and hosted the Turner Prize in 2023, also securing funding for a major capital project to create a new arts centre at Black Robin Farm on the South Downs.

Prior to Towner, he was director of Southend’s Focal Point Gallery and has curatorial experience at the likes of Camden Arts Centre, Firstsite Colchester and the Venice Biennale.

Hill said he had admired YSP “for a long time for its ambition, generosity and deep connection to artists and landscape” and was “thrilled” to join.

“I’m excited to build on YSP’s remarkable artistic programme and to strengthen its long-term resilience, ensuring it continues to support artists and welcome audiences in ever more inspiring ways,” he said.

Chair of YSP’s board PETER CLEGG said he was “delighted” with the appointment, adding that the park was in “very capable hands” for the “exceptional programme” planned for the coming year.

“We went through an exhaustive process alongside our senior leadership team and chose Joe unanimously from an exciting longlist of applicants,” he said.

Arts Council England director for Yorkshire and the Humber PETE MASSEY joined Clegg in welcoming the new appointment, saying Hill’s “significant experience and artistic vision” would be “invaluable”.