Joe Hill Appointed As New Director And Chief Executive Of Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) has announced the appointment of Joe Hill as its new Director and Chief Executive.

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 artistic practice.

The Trustees’ appointment of Hill reflects 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.

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.

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 with YSP’s ambitions for the future. Under his leadership, 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. 

Hill, who will start his new role in April, also 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.

Peter Clegg, Chair of the Trustees, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, said:

“On behalf of YSP’s Trustees I am delighted to welcome Joe Hill as our new Director and Chief Executive. We went through an exhaustive process alongside our Senior Leadership Team and chose Joe unanimously from an exciting longlist of applicants. Joe has completely transformed Towner Eastbourne into the centre for creative arts across the region that it is now and has initiated a new cultural and educational centre for landscape and the arts in the South Downs National Park. ”


Incoming Director and Chief Executive Hill added:
“Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a place I have admired for a long time for its ambition, generosity and deep connection to artists and landscape. I am thrilled to be joining as Director and Chief Executive, and look forward to working with the team to ensure YSP continues to grow as a truly global destination for sculpture, while remaining deeply rooted in Yorkshire and the communities and landscape that make it so distinctive. I’m excited to build on YSP’s remarkable artistic programme and to strengthen its long-term resilience, ensuring it continues to support artists and welcome audiences in ever more inspiring ways.”