The Burton at Bideford has announced the appointment of Harriet Cooper as its new Director. She will start her new role on 16 September.
Harriet is a curator known for her developmental work with early-career artists, expertise in commissioning new work, and strategic leadership of national partnership projects. Her most recent roles have included Project Director at Southwark Park Galleries for national touring exhibition ‘Jerwood Survey III’; Curator of the UAL Art Collection; and member of the Arts Council Collection Acquisitions Committee 2022-25.
From 2018-22 Harriet was Head of Visual Arts for independent funder Jerwood Arts, supporting over 85 early-career visual artists, curators and arts writers to create ambitious new works, and building partnerships with 18 visual arts organisations across the UK. In this role she spearheaded pioneering new programmes including Jerwood Curatorial Accelerator – a 12-month curatorial and leadership development programme for curators from working class/low socio-economic backgrounds – and strategically shaped specialist commissioning initiatives such as Jerwood Art Fund Makers Open and the Jerwood/Photoworks Awards.
Harriet was co-curator of Phyllida Barlow’s celebrated solo commission ‘folly’ for the British Pavilion at the 57th Venice Art Biennale in 2017 and worked with Delhi-based Raqs Media Collective in 2018 to develop the project ‘Not Yet At Ease’ for 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. She has previously worked in the curatorial teams at Firstsite in Colchester, the British Council in London, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Tate Liverpool, and has served as an independent member of the Cymru yn Fenis Wales in Venice Advisory Committee.
Harriet said: “As a passionate advocate for the importance of art and artists in society, I am thrilled to join The Burton at this pivotal moment in the organisation’s journey. Since it was founded in 1951 The Burton has been committed to celebrating, exhibiting and nurturing artists, and I am looking forward to working with the incredible team of trustees, staff and volunteers to continue this essential legacy. The Burton is renowned as one of North Devon’s most important creative destinations and it is an honour to guide its next steps as the team strive to centre accessibility and sustainability in plans to improve the building, extend outreach and education programmes, and present even more ambitious projects and exhibitions for our audiences.”
Chair of The Burton trustees Robert Millward commented: “”I am certain that the appointment of Harriet as our new Director will help all of us at The Burton, staff and trustees alike, expand our horizons and consider novel and innovative ways to further improve and grow our wonderful gallery.”
The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum is a National Portfolio Organisation and one of the leading cultural venues within the South West, attracting over 180,000 visitors last year. It is situated in the historic town of Bideford, where art, craft and maritime heritage meet at the water’s edge. With two exhibition spaces, heritage displays, craft gallery, a retail area, an education space and a café, The Burton attracts a wide range of audiences and provides the opportunity to access and engage with artists, collections and exhibitions on all levels. Placing community at the heart of all its activities, The Burton offers a rich outreach programme for those who don’t have easy access to a traditional arts venue.
The exhibition programme brings some of the most celebrated international artists to North Devon in partnership with leading organisations such as Tate, Arts Council Collection and the British Museum. Recent exhibitions include solo presentations by Louise Bourgeois (Tate ARTIST ROOMS), Paula Rego, and Yinka Shonibare CBE; while the Annual Schools Exhibition, Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition and Annual Friends Exhibition highlight the thriving artistic community in the region.
The Burton also supports contemporary artists through its annual Environmental and Ceramics Commissions, which offer an artist access to our collections and the opportunity to produce a body of work in response. The positions are currently held by Cornwall-based Andy Hughes (Environmental Commission) and Glasgow-based Florence Dwyer (Ceramics Commission).
Originally established to house the collections of Hubert Coop RBA, The Burton now displays a rich array of artefacts that vividly capture the history of Bideford and its surrounding area. The museum’s dedicated Ceramics Gallery features the RJ Lloyd Collection, renowned for its North Devon slipware, and the Christine Halstead Collection of studio ware, providing an insightful introduction to the region’s ceramic heritage. The Permanent Collection also features work by artists including Gillian Ayres, Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA FRS, Aubrey Hunt, Bertram Prance, James Ravilious, and the archive of Mary Stella Edwards and Judith Ackland.
Image: © Carole Evans
