Managing Director Appointed
We are pleased to announce that Jessica Smith has been appointed Managing Director of New Art Centre. This is the first such position in the New Art Centre's history since Madeleine Bessborough CBE founded the gallery in 1958.
With over 25 years' experience across the commercial art world Smith brings an extensive knowledge of contemporary artists, an ardent understanding of working with artist estates and a thorough insight of the complex split between a critical sphere focused on cultural value and a fluctuating commercial market. Smith previously held positions at the New Art Centre from 2017 to 2022 as Associate Director and Director. Since then she has been partner for the artist management consultancy Southern & Partners and Director of Bo Lee & Workman gallery. Earlier in her career she led the art fair programme at White Cube leaving to manage monographs and coordinate exhibitions in London, Berlin and New York.
'I am delighted and relieved that someone as able as Jessica is taking the reins here at Roche Court. She knows and has worked with so many of the important artists who are the lifeblood of this sculpture park. She is as interested as I am in education, supporting schools to visit and to appreciate the art they will inherit ' states Madeleine Bessborough CBE.
Matthew Ponsonby, Director said: 'This is an exciting and promising new chapter. I look forward to seeing how the New Art Centre continues to evolve.'
Charles Ponsonby, Director said:' Jessica is a highly respected figure, with her many years working with artists, collectors and institutions making her the ideal person to lead NAC into a new era.'
Jessica Smith said: 'It is an incredible honour to be asked by the family to become Managing Director. I look forward to this pivotal next stage at NAC, and most importantly continuing and advancing the remarkable work of Madeleine and her team in the years to follow.'
Notes to Editors
The New Art Centre, Roche Court Sculpture Park is a commercial gallery set in the rolling Wiltshire countryside, near Salisbury. Established in Sloane Street, London in 1958, the New Art Centre is a specialist in 20th- and 21st-century art.
In 1994, the gallery moved from London to its current location at Roche Court, East Winterslow in Wiltshire. The house at Roche Court was originally built in 1804 for the family of Admiral Nelson. The park and woodlands which surround the house enable a focus on exhibiting outdoor sculpture, making the New Art Centre, Roche Court Sculpture Park a pioneer of the commercially run sculpture park in the UK.
Since 1958, the gallery has championed young and emerging artists as its core ambition. This ambition continues today with the gallery showing contemporary artists alongside those artists who first exhibited with the business decades ago. Now in mid- or late-career, those artists are shown in dialogue with new art in the gardens and in our contemporary indoor spaces.
The award-winning architect, Stephen Marshall added four indoor exhibition spaces at Roche Court Sculpture Park; The Gallery & Orangery; The Artist’s House; The Design House; and The Stable Gallery. These expanded spaces will enable the gallery to stage a closely curated exhibition programme of modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics and textiles.
For press requests, email grace@sculpture.uk.com
To contact Jessica, email jessica@sculpture.uk.com
