Liverpool’s Bluecoat has named Emer Grant as its new creative director. Grant is the first person named to the position at the museum since its founding in 1927. She joins the contemporary art center—England’s oldest—from Arts Collective Northampton, where she is artistic director and CEO. She will take up her post at Bluecoat in early 2027, as the center gears up to celebrate its centenary.
“I’m looking forward to making Liverpool my home and getting to know its creative communities,’ said Grant in a statement. “This is a city with immense pride in its culture, people and spirit. I hope to learn from that energy, continue the Bluecoat’s tradition of presenting ambitious art, and work collaboratively to shape a vision for its next century.”
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Grant’s curatorial work has focused on contemporary art, artist-led infrastructures, institutional models, public space and interdisciplinary approaches to cultural production. While at Arts Collective Northampton, she spearheaded the development of its new 24 Guildhall Road home. Among the exhibitions she oversaw were those by Rose Finn-Kelcey and Mark Wallinger. Under Grant’s leadership, the collective collaborated with institutions including the Hessel Museum of Art, Croton-on-Hudson, New York; the International Student Curatorial Program, New York; Void Gallery in Northern Ireland; and the Netherlands’ Stroom den Haag.
“Grant has worked internationally as a curator, producer and cultural leader, with vast experience in program strategy, project management, and interdisciplinary arts,” said Bluecoat CEO Mary Cloake in a statement. “She has a deep understanding of how contemporary art can contribute to civic identity, education, wellbeing, and economic regeneration—all vital experience which will contribute richly to the work we do here in the heart of Liverpool.”