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Catherine Hemelryk announced as new director of CCA

The board and staff of CCA Derry~Londonderry are delighted to welcome our new director, Catherine Hemelryk, who will officially commence her post on 1st August.

Prior to CCA, Catherine joined NN Contemporary Art in Northampton, England as Curator in 2011 and was promoted to Artistic Director in 2012. At NN she curated the international programme of contemporary art and multi-disciplinary events with a focus on developing artists’ critical and practical skills. She was the strategic lead for the organisation and initiated and delivered local, national and international partnership projects, publications and fundraising. Under Catherine’s leadership NN grew its reputation as an artist-centred space supporting experimental work by artists ranging from recent graduates to Venice Biennale award winners and NN was awarded NPO status from Arts Council England in 2017.

Catherine was Curator at CAC Vilnius from 2005–2008 where she curated exhibitions, edited publications for the IX Baltic Triennial and contributed to CAC TV. She has also worked at various institutions across Europe and the UK including being guest curator at Magacin, Belgrade and Galerie Antje Wachs Berlin and has participated in curatorial residencies at HMK Hoorn, Wysing Arts Centre (as part of the Escalator Retreat programme), GeoAIR Tbilisi and Sea Foundation Tilburg.

Following her BA (Hons) Fine Art from Newcastle University, Catherine earned an MA in Curating Contemporary Art from the Royal College of Art and a Diploma in Government & Politics from the Open University. She was the Chair of What Next? Northampton and Expert Panel Member of OPUN and acts as a mentor, consultant and commissioner for artists, local authorities and arts initiatives. She has been a guest lecturer and participated in panels for institutions including Glasgow School of Art, Central St Martins, Newcastle University, IUAV Venice, Tbilisi School of Art, Arnolfini, Focal Point and has edited and written for publications across Europe.

Catherine states, “I am delighted to be joining the Centre for Contemporary Art Derry~Londonderry as Director. I have long admired the organisation and look forward to working with the board and staff to continue to create Programmes that inspire and support current and future generations of artists and audiences. I am honoured to be taking on such a position and will endeavour to continue the valuable work CCA does as well as expanding its role as resource for artists, researchers, collectors, curators and sharing emerging artistic practice with audiences of all descriptions in NI and internationally.”

From the Chair:

“ We had an impressive field of candidates for the post of Director and we thank all of them for their interest.

Catherine Hemelryk was our unanimous choice. We are delighted to be working with Catherine and believe she will lead the future development of CCA with inspiration and integrity.

Not only has Catherine accepted the post of Director of CCA, she has also chosen to relocate to the City and commit to the City. The Board and Staff welcome Catherine and trust the arts community and the City in all its diversity will extend a warm welcome to her also.

Cead Mile Failte Catherine.

A hundred thousand Welcomes.”

Jaci Wilde (Chair CCA Derry-Londonderry)