HAMMAD NASAR APPOINTED AS LEAD CURATOR WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR DELIVERING TURNER PRIZE 2021

30 April 2021

Today we announce that Hammad Nasar has been appointed as Lead Curator to support the Herbert deliver its ambitious visual arts programme over the next 18 months, including the Turner Prize 2021, and an exhibition in 2022 that will be developed in partnership with local community groups, and will tap into important national collections.

Image credit: Eric and Petra Hesmerg

The Turner Prize, one of the best-known prizes for the visual arts in the world, will be presented at the Herbert in Coventry as part of the city’s UK City of Culture 2021 celebrations.

Turner Prize aims to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art and is awarded to a British artist for an outstanding recent exhibition or other presentation of their work.

In addition to his involvement in the Turner Prize and the national collections exhibition, Hammad will support Culture Coventry – the trust which runs Herbert Art Gallery and Museum - to utilise the platform of UK City of Culture to position Coventry as a key visual arts destination nationally, in collaboration with a range of partners.

Hammad is a curator, writer, and researcher with a diverse mix of experience gained in the arts, management consulting and financial services in the UK, US, Europe and Asia. He is co-curator (with Irene Aristizábal) of British Art Show 9 (2020–2022) - the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK - organised every five years by Hayward Gallery Touring.

To date Hammad has curated over 30 exhibitions, nationally at Manchester Art Gallery, Whitworth and Whitechapel among others, and internationally - including the UAE’s National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, 2017.

He is particularly passionate about exploring the ways in which contemporary art practices intersect with, and challenge, existing histories of British art and wider cultural stories of belonging.

Hammad Nasar, said: “I am incredibly excited to work alongside the team at Culture Coventry to deliver Turner Prize 2021, develop a collaboration with national collections and support them in realising their ambitious legacy plans to place Coventry as a key visual arts destination nationally.”

Paul Breed, Chief Executive of Culture Coventry, which operates Herbert Art Gallery & Museum said: “We are thrilled to be working with Hammad to deliver a transformative visual arts programme over the next 18 months in collaboration with local communities and national partners. We would like to thank Arts Council England for funding this key role as part of our national activities funding - ensuring we are better placed to deliver our ambitious plans.”

Culture Coventry has received funding from Arts Council England (through the National Lottery) to support the delivery of its UK City of Culture programme, including the appointment of the Lead Curator role.

For further press information, interview requests and images, please contact Ruark Jon-Stevens, Marketing & Communications Manager, Culture Coventry. Email: ruark.jon-stevens@culturcoventry.com