Joe Hill appointed as Yorkshire Sculpture Park's New Director
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) has announced the appointment of Joe Hill as its new Director and Chief Executive, assuming full responsibility from 14 April.
His appointment marks the organisation entering a pivotal phase looking ahead to its 50th anniversary in 2027. Set within 500 acres of historic parkland in West Bretton, West Yorkshire, YSP has established itself as a leading international cultural destination, renowned for its pioneering approach to sculpture and site-responsive practice.
The Trustees’ appointment of Joe Hill responds to his proven track record of leading cultural organisations through periods of growth, transformation and national recognition, and his ambition for YSP and the region. He brings exceptional insight into how cultural institutions can shape place, foster creativity and connect meaningfully with diverse audiences and teams with care.
Originally from Yorkshire and a trained artist, Hill is currently Director and CEO of Towner Eastbourne, a position he has held for eight years. His tenure at Towner has been marked by a strong artistic vision, major collection development and an embedded commitment to community, ensuring artists and audiences remained central to the organisation’s purpose. His leadership experience and artistic vision align powerfully with YSP’s ambitions for the future.
During his tenure, Towner Eastbourne won Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2020, hosted the Turner Prize in 2023, and secured funding for a major capital project to create a new arts, environment and heritage centre at Black Robin Farm on the South Downs. Audiences grew significantly under Hill’s leadership, which also saw Towner launch an ambitious redevelopment of its Eastbourne gallery building.
Hill was appointed following a highly competitive recruitment process, with brilliant applications from 3 continents, 10 nations and cultural leaders from across the UK. As Director and Chief Executive, he will lead YSP’s next phase of artistic and strategic growth, advancing its role as a centre for commissioning, learning and research; strengthening its long-term vision across its outdoor landscape, several distinctive indoor galleries and award-winning visitor facilities.
Hill brings a combination of creative insight, strategic leadership and partnership-building experience to YSP. He is an active contributor to national cultural policy, including serving as a member of the Turner Prize 2026 jury, and through leadership roles in regional and sector-wide networks such as Culture East Sussex and the South East Creative Economy Network.
His career reflects a sustained belief in the power of contemporary art to shape civic life and reimagine relationships between culture, place and landscape. Prior to Towner, he was Director of Focal Point Gallery, Southend, where he led the influential Radical ESSEX research and placemaking programme. His curatorial experience includes roles at Camden Arts Centre, Firstsite Colchester and the Venice Biennale.
Main Image: Joe Hill Copyright Cameron Brown