Internationally respected curator and writer Tom Trevor is to become the new Artistic Director of the River Tamar Project, based at Plymouth University.A leading figure in the contemporary art world, he is currently Artistic Director of the 4th Dojima River Biennale in Osaka, Japan, Guest Curator of Music for Museums at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, and curatorial consultant to the 1st ARoS Triennale for Aarhus 2017, European Capital of Culture, in Denmark.
He also has previous experience of working in the South West, having been Director of Arnolfini in Bristol from 2005-13, Associate Curator of the Art Fund International collection at Bristol Museum from 2007-12, and Director of Spacex in Exeter between 1999-2005.
His new role will see him working with artists and creative practitioners as part of a major cultural programme, which aims to connect local and international communities with one of the South West’s most significant waterways, through the arts.
Tom Trevor said:
“I am delighted to be taking on this role at an exciting time for the contemporary arts in Plymouth. My involvement with the River Tamar Project builds upon a long-standing interest in rivers and the cultural life that develops around them. I am really looking forward to engaging with the different communities based along the Tamar, and to commissioning artists' projects in relation to this historic context and the people who live and work there.
“I am also keen to explore the possibilities for establishing an international network of river projects in the lead-up to the Mayflower 400 celebrations in 2020. There is enormous potential for projects in Plymouth and the Tamar area, and a great ‘can do’ spirit, so it will be exciting to work with partners in the city, as well as regionally, nationally and internationally, to develop a world-class project that is relevant and distinctive to the locality.”
The River Tamar Project was formally established in 2012 and is now a part of Peninsula Arts, the public arts programme of Plymouth University.
Peninsula Arts was recently awarded funding from Arts Council England so that the project could undertake research and development for a future major arts festival.
This will build upon the success of It’s All About the River, a month long event in 2014 featuring new commissions from local, national and international artists and filmmakers, and screenings of popular and cult classics, in impressive settings along the banks of the Tamar.
Dr Sarah Chapman, Director of Peninsula Artsat Plymouth University, said:
“Tom is a highly respected figure in the international art scene and comes to this project with an illustrious track record of working on major projects and festivals across the world. We were particularly interested in how he saw the River Tamar Project as being embedded in the future cultural developments of the city and region, citing it as a possible landmark event of 2020. His extensive experience and worldwide links will help us build on the previous success of the project and make a fantastic contribution to the University, the city and region.”
