Timo Arnall’s Robot Readable World at Dread Exhibition, curated by Juha van ‘t Zelfde at De Hallan Haarlem.

Lighthouse announces new Artistic Director

19 February 2014. Lighthouse Brighton announced that Juha Van ‘t Zelfde is appointed as new Artistic Director.

Juha Van ’t Zelfde is a Dutch-Finnish curator and cultural innovator with an interest in new developments in art, music, technology, economics and the public domain. He has collaborated with leading institutions and festivals worldwide and has led numerous cross-disciplinary programmes that scrutinize contemporary society in a digital age, a theme similarly explored by our work here at Lighthouse

In 2013 van ’t Zelfde curated Dread – Fear in the age of technological acceleration, at De Hallen Haarlem – a landmark exhibition that was voted ‘Best Group Show of 2013’ by contemporary art magazine, Kunstbeeld. The exhibition featured groundbreaking artists whose works expose the invisible infrastructures in society, including Trevor Paglen, Timo Arnall and James Bridle, who have previously presented major exhibitions for Lighthouse as part of Brighton Photo Biennial 2012, Brighton Festival 2013 and Brighton Digital Festival 2013.

Van ’t Zelfde says: “I am incredibly excited to have been given this opportunity. Lighthouse has become one of the top cultural institutions to watch in Europe, presenting critical works by emerging artists, designers and filmmakers, and championing their importance in our technological age. I’m looking forward to working with the talented team at Lighthouse to evolve its vital, innovative and inspirational programmes for the future.”

Van ‘t Zelfde will take up his position on 20 Feb, 2014. He will be co-director of Lighthouse alongside Managing Director, Miriam Randall. Randall says: “Juha has forged a reputation as one of the most exciting new curators in Europe and I’m thrilled we’ll be bringing his vibrant artistic vision to our audiences.”

Anthony Lilley, Chair of Lighthouse, says: “Juha’s appointment is a fantastic development for us. His energy, passion and commitment combined with a great international track record make him the standout choice to help Lighthouse continue to increase the range and impact of its work and to build on the fantastic foundations left behind by Honor Harger.”

“We wish Honor all the very best in her amazing new role as Executive Director of the ArtScience Museum, Singapore and we look forward to welcoming her back in future as a treasured collaborator.”

Cate Canniffe, Director, South East, Arts Council England, said: “Lighthouse’s appointment of Juha Van ‘t Zelfde as artistic director is a positive development and one that we welcome. As one of Europe’s most exciting and talented young curators, Juha will be able to build on Lighthouse’s excellent work to date and continue its exploration of ways in which artists and the digital sectors can collaborate in new and innovative ways.”

Lighthouse is a digital culture agency based in Brighton, UK. By supporting artists and filmmakers, through commissioning, exhibition and professional development, they demonstrate that digital culture is about more than technology and tools; it is about ideas, emotion, learning, and aesthetics. In the past 18 months, they have presented or coproduced solo shows by David Blandy, The Otolith Group, Kutlug Ataman, Semiconductor, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, Lynette Wallworth, and Trevor Paglen, and shown work by Blast Theory, Invisible Flock, Rafael Lozano Hemmer and over two dozen other artists.

For the full press release, click here.