It is a great pleasure to announce the appointment to the Art UK Board of four wonderful new Trustees. They are Dr Caroline Campbell, Dr Jago Cooper, Sarah Hayden and Sherece Rainford.
Dr Caroline Campbell is Director of the National Gallery of Ireland.
Caroline Campbell
Before taking up this role in November 2022 she was Director of Collections and Research at The National Gallery, London, and held curatorial positions at The National Gallery, the Courtauld Gallery and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
Caroline has curated and co-curated many exhibitions, including 'Bellini and the East' (2005–2006), 'Love and Marriage in Renaissance Florence' (2009), 'Building the Picture: Architecture in Italian Renaissance Painting' (2014) 'Duccio/Caro: In Dialogue' (2015), and 'Mantegna and Bellini' at The National Gallery (2018).
Born and raised in Belfast, Caroline was educated at University College, Oxford and the Courtauld Institute of Art.
Dr Jago Cooper is Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre and Professor of Art and Archaeology at the University of East Anglia.
Jago Cooper
After joining his local museum as a 6-year-old volunteer in the 1980s, he started his first job at the Museum of London in the 1990s before spending a decade living and working in Sri Lanka, Australia and Cuba in museum and cultural heritage roles.
After returning to the UK to teach at the University of Leicester and UCL, Jago was appointed as the Head of the Americas Section by the British Museum where he enjoyed creating a series of major exhibitions, new digital experiences and international museum collaborations including the establishment of the Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American research.
Jago’s numerous books, articles and television documentaries reflect his interest in tackling the big questions of our future from climate change to technological innovation. Jago took up his role at the Sainsbury Centre in 2021, which under his leadership has undergone a major relaunch becoming the first museum in the world to recognise the living lifeforce of art and is now 'probably the UK's most radical art museum', according to the Guardian.
Sarah Hayden is a Product Marketing Lead at Apple in London, where she has spent over 12 years developing and leading marketing initiatives across EMEA.
Sarah Hayden
With a strong focus on creating impactful campaigns, Sarah specialises in areas such as education, privacy, sustainability, and accessibility. Her strategic efforts have consistently driven significant growth and ensured that marketing campaigns meet and exceed key performance indicators.
In addition to her corporate role, Sarah has been involved with the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, contributing to projects that foster positive social change. She excels in collaboration, working closely with diverse teams at Apple and building strategic partnerships to enhance impact.
Holding a Master's in Cultural Studies and English Literature from the University of Edinburgh, Sarah combines creativity with data-driven insights to effectively engage audiences and drive results. Committed to ensuring that marketing efforts are both innovative and meaningful, she strives to make a lasting impact in every initiative she undertakes.
Sherece Rainford is the visionary Founder and Creative Director of Gallery OCA, which specialises in contemporary Caribbean art. Sherece is a fierce advocate for the full representation of Caribbean artists on the global stage.
Sherece Rainford
Her pioneering spirit and passion for diversity in the arts have led her to curate and platform the works of emerging and established Caribbean talent through high-profile exhibitions at Cromwell Place, London, the Atlantic World Art Fair, the 1-54 African Art Fair Presents at Christie's London, and the 'Together We Thrive' exhibition with Sotheby's Institute of Art.
Sherece's dedication to advancing Caribbean art extends beyond gallery walls. As a commissioned curator, she has spearheaded national exhibitions for esteemed institutions such as the Black Cultural Archives, The Royal Insitute of International Affairs – Chatham House, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan's office. Her debut exhibition at Gallery OCA in December 2021, titled 'Corporeality', featured renowned artist Anthony Daley and set the tone for her commitment to showcasing thought-provoking and culturally significant works.
With over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and consultant, Sherece brings a wealth of business acumen to her art consultancy practice. Her background includes delivering strategic business solutions in marketing, branding, public relations, and digital innovation across both the public and private sectors. In addition, Sherece has taught Entrepreneurship at University College London (UCL), where she led initiatives that bridged cutting-edge research with practical business applications, further honing her expertise in innovation and enterprise.
Sherece's education in Art Advisory and the Art of Collecting from both Sotheby's Institute of Art and Christie's Education has solidified her position as a respected voice for collectors, businesses, and institutes in the art world. Her contributions to the arts were recently recognised when, in April 2024, she received the Freedom of the City of London for her trailblazing work in promoting diversity and cultural representation.
A sought-after speaker, Sherece has shared her expertise at events such as the Jamaica Making Symposium at Liverpool John Moore University, the Precious Wealth Conference, and Local Globe Funders on investing in art. Her insights have also been featured in prominent media outlets, including BBC Radio London, The Voice Newspaper, The Gleaner, and the Financial Times.
An active member of several art associations, Sherece continues to push boundaries, leveraging her extensive network and experience to open doors for underrepresented artists and collectors alike.
