The Hepworth Wakefield announces new Chair of the Board
27 Mar 2018
The Trustees of The Hepworth Wakefield have appointed internationally acclaimed design critic, Alice Rawsthorn OBE as the new Chair of The Hepworth Wakefield.
Rawsthorn will take up the role in May 2018 when the gallery’s first Chair, David Liddiment steps down after a seven year term.
David Liddiment, current Chair of The Hepworth Wakefield Board, said: “On behalf of The Hepworth Wakefield Board, I am delighted to announce Alice Rawsthorn as its new Chair. Alice has a wealth of experience and knowledge both as a Chair and Trustee of arts organisations that will be hugely beneficial to realising the gallery’s ambitious plans in the coming years.”
Rawsthorn has broad experience in arts governance, working for seven years as a trustee of Arts Council England, and serving on the board of the Whitechapel Gallery for over 20 years. She currently chairs the boards of trustees of Chisenhale Gallery and the contemporary dance group Michael Clark Company.
Born in Manchester, Rawsthorn graduated in art history from the University of Cambridge. Awarded an OBE for services to design and the arts, she is an honorary senior fellow of the Royal College of Art and has an honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts. As a Financial Times journalist for 18 years, Rawsthorn pioneered its coverage of the creative industries and worked as a foreign correspondent in Paris. For the last 12 years, she has written on design for the New York Times, which syndicated her weekly column worldwide. The author of a number of successful books on design, Rawsthorn is an influential public speaker at important global events including TED and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“As a proud northerner, who is passionate about the arts I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Chair of The Hepworth Wakefield. The gallery has achieved so much in such a short time, and I am delighted by the prospect of being able to contribute to its future development and growth.”
Alice Rawsthorn on being appointed as Chair of The Hepworth Wakefield
