NOTTINGHAM.- It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that Nottingham Contemporary announces that its Director, Sam Thorne, will be departing in October to take on the role of Director General & CEO at Japan House London. Sam’s new role will see him working closely with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to oversee cultural partnerships between Europe and Japan.

Since joining the organisation in 2016, Sam has built on Nottingham Contemporary’s reputation for innovative exhibitions, learning and research programmes. His passion for international dialogue, experimental approaches and cultural education has brought recognition and acclaim, including being nominated for Museum of the Year. During his tenure, the programme has spanned more than 30 exhibitions, including: solo shows by Meriem Bennani, Denzil Forrester, Marguerite Humeau, Allison Katz and Erika Verzutti; ambitious new commissions by Elizabeth Price, Lara Favaretto and Wu Tsang; an artist-curated show by Linder; wide-ranging thematic exhibitions about legacies of the Bauhaus and the politics of listening, as well as our upcoming show, Hollow Earth, exploring subterranean imaginaries (opening 24 September). Sam’s time at Nottingham Contemporary will also be notable for strengthening the institution’s commitment to education, further embedding it in the heart of our programme, as seen in our recent Lina Bo Bardi project with Assemble.

The commitment and care that Sam has given over the past six and a half years will leave a lasting impression here at Nottingham Contemporary. His vision will continue to shape the organisation, our programmes, and the local cultural community in Nottingham. We would like to take this moment to thank Sam and wish him all the very best for his exciting new role.

On the subject of his time at Nottingham Contemporary, Sam said: "I am tremendously proud of what we have achieved during my time at Nottingham Contemporary. This has been a truly collective effort, and I want to thank everybody who has played a part. This is a critical moment for cultural institutions everywhere, and we need spaces for experimentation, education and debate more than ever. I look forward to coming back, as a visitor, to see where Nottingham Contemporary goes next."

Matt Symonds, Chair of Nottingham Contemporary’s Board of Trustees commented: “Sam’s exceptional direction has had a marked influence on both the institution and the city. Over his tenure as director, Sam has led Nottingham Contemporary to be a leading force in the UK’s institutional landscape. Sam has overseen a formidable programme and it is with great fondness that we say a sad farewell.”