Bluecoat appoints Emer Grant as first creative director

Bluecoat, England’s oldest contemporary art center, has appointed Emer Grant as its first creative director since its founding in 1927. Grant, who currently serves as the artistic director and CEO of Arts Collective Northampton, is scheduled to begin her role in early 2027.

The appointment coincides with the center’s centenary celebrations. Grant will be tasked with establishing an artistic vision and programming model to shape the institution's future practice. Her professional background includes curatorial work with international organizations such as the Hessel Museum of Art and the International Student Curatorial Program in New York, Stroom den Haag in the Netherlands, and Void Gallery in Northern Ireland.

Bluecoat CEO Mary Cloake noted that Grant’s experience in program strategy and interdisciplinary arts will be vital to the center’s work in Liverpool. Grant expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating it offers an opportunity to explore the evolution of the arts center with communities at its core.