McAleese appointed Director of Edinburgh Art Festival

The Edinburgh Art Festival has announced KIM McALEESE as its new Director.

She succeeds outgoing Director SORCHA CAREY, who is now Director at Collective after leading the festival for 11 years.

Co-founder and Co-director of Belfast’s Household Collective, McAleese is currently Programme Director of Birmingham's Grand Union.

She is also Vice Chair of Belfast’s Outburst Queer Arts, an advisory board member for New Art West Midlands, and served on the 2021 Turner Prize jury.

McAleese takes up post at the UK’s largest annual festival of visual arts ahead of its 18th edition, beginning July 28.

“Scotland has always been close to my heart, and I cannot wait to begin working there,” she said.

“Collaborative working and co-commissioning has been an essential part of how I operate and see the world, and I really hope to bring that to the festival.”