LONDON.- Acclaimed arts authority Karen MacKinnon is to step down as Director and Curator at Artes Mundi the UK’s largest international art prize, to take up post as curator of Swansea’s prestigious Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, one of Wales’ leading contemporary art galleries.

Since taking on the post of Director and Curator at Artes Mundi in 2013, Karen has put the independent Cardiff-based organisation on the global stage. Karen has overseen three cycles of the Artes Mundi Prize and Exhibition, won in the past three years by Theaster Gates, John Akomfrah and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Karen has overseen an expansion of the programme to include partner organisations Tate Plus, Chapter Arts Centre, Ffotogallery’s Turner House alongside core partner National Museum Cardiff. Karen used her tenure to grow awareness for international contemporary art, not only in Wales but across the UK, with the prize announcement reaching millions across both BBC network and international media each year.

Karen’s directorship has overseen a remarkable increase of the organisation’s international recognition and prestige alongside a programme of interim projects across Wales with Artes Mundi shortlisted artists, including exhibitions Bedwyr Williams at Pontio, Ragnar Kjartansson at National Museum Cardiff, N.S. Harsha at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and with Broomberg and Chanarin at MOSTYN.

Karen leaves Artes Mundi after the eighth edition of the prize, won by Thai artist and filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul in January 2019. At £40,000, the prize is the largest in the UK.

Karen MacKinnon said: “I’m delighted to return to Swansea and the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. I look forward to continuing the brilliant work of recently retired curator Jenni Spencer-Davies and the whole team. Working closely with colleagues in Swansea Council and the wider cultural networks, Arts Council Wales and local diverse communities and residents, we can further explore how art questions, inspires, connects and transforms our lives - and how the things it teaches us reverberate and are useful way beyond the walls of the gallery."

Mathew Prichard CBE DL, Chairman of Artes Mundi, said: “We warmly congratulate Karen on her appointment at Glynn Vivian and are of course deeply sad to see her go. In the past 6 years, Karen has driven Artes Mundi from success to success and her artist and audience focused approach and enduring enthusiasm leaves a legacy to be very proud of. We wish her every success in her new post”.

Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “We are thrilled to have a curator of Karen’s calibre leading the Glynn Vivian. The gallery is a major arts venue for our city and Wales; both are brimming with creative opportunity and potential.

These are challenging times for the public sector and the arts but I have no doubt that, under Karen’s creative leadership, the Glynn Vivian will thrive. Her expertise combined with that of her team at the gallery will benefit the wider arts and cultural sector in the region, as well as all Swansea residents and visitors. We thank Jenni Spencer-Davies for her work at the Glynn Vivian and wish her well in retirement.”

Karen MacKinnon has enjoyed a 25-year career as an arts director and curator. She has brought high-profile artists, exhibitions and events to Wales. She worked as an international curator based in Wales from the late 1990s to 2013. This included roles at Glynn Vivian and Chapter, Cardiff. She organised and curated exhibitions and worked with socially engaged practitioners as well as those whose work is gallery based. Successes included the Wales Pavilion at the 2005 Venice Biennale.

Karen MacKinnon will take the helm at Glynn Vivian on April 1st.

The Artes Mundi 8 prize exhibition continues at the National Museum Cardiff until 24th February 2019.