Emer Grant Appointed Creative Director of the Bluecoat in Liverpool

The Bluecoat in Liverpool has announced the appointment of Emer Grant as its first Creative Director, ahead of the arts centre’s centenary in 2027.

Grant will join the Bluecoat in early 2027 from Arts Collective Northampton, where she currently serves as Artistic Director and CEO. Since 2020, she has overseen the organisation’s artistic programme and the £5.2 million redevelopment of its new home at 24 Guildhall Road.

Her international curatorial experience includes exhibitions, commissions and public programmes at the Hessel Museum of Art and ISCP in New York, Stroom Den Haag in the Netherlands, Void Gallery in Northern Ireland and Oolite Arts in South Florida.

In her new role, Grant will lead the Bluecoat’s artistic vision and develop a programming model that builds on the institution’s legacy while shaping its future direction.

The appointment comes as the Bluecoat prepares to celebrate 100 years as the UK’s first arts centre, marking a significant moment in the institution’s history.