Marie McPartlin is a Director and Artistic Programmer commissioning and developing cutting-edge cross-disciplinary projects across music, visual art, performance and new technologies. A recipient of a Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Award for exceptional cultural entrepreneurship in 2009, she has twice served as a festival director, and under ACE’s Cultural Leadership Programme, was appointed Associate Programmer, Contemporary Music at the Barbican. 

She is the inaugural Director of Somerset House Studios, London, which she has shaped and led since 2015, and a Trustee of the Whitechapel Gallery. 

Recent press: Arts Professional, FLO London & Fetch.

Somerset House Studios

Somerset House Studios is an experimental workspace for artists across disciplines in the centre of London. The Studios supports up to 70 artists at any one time to develop new creative projects and collaborations. Current resident artists include Jasleen Kaur, Nkisi, Gala Porras Kim, Lawrence Lek, Akinola Davies, Imran Perretta and Tai Shani.

Her role combines artistic direction, curation and artist development with oversight of the capital development, business and operational plans for the Studios.

She has commissioned and developed many new works from artists including Tai Shani, Sophia al Maria and Lydia Ourahmane, Sidsel Meineche Hansen, Beatrice Dillon, Christian Marclay, Jenna Sutela, Rashaad Newsome, Keiken, and Sin Wai Kin. Ash Sarkar, Brian Eno, Hito Steryl and SOPHIE are amongst the artists and thinkers who have featured in the ongoing critical programme of the Studios.

  • Kinsale Arts Festival, Ireland

    As Director Marie commissioned an extensive programme of site responsive work, which unfolded across two 17th century forts, churches, factories and the harbour itself, including new large-scale works by Heather and Ivan Morison, and art-architecture practice Something & Son.

  • London Word Festival

    Co-founded in 2008, the festival ran for four years across spaces in east London, supported by a Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Award. Commissions included new works and performances from Alan Moore, Tim Etchells and Ant Hampton, Saul Williams, Christian Bok, Maria Fusco and Hannah Silva.

  • Freelance

    Marie has worked extensively as a programmer, producer and consultant specialising in cross-disciplinary work with many notable organisations including Frieze, Create London, Sydney Festival and the National Trust.

mcpartlinmarie@gmail.com

@MarieMcPartlin