Kings Place appoints Sam McShane as new artistic director

London cultural venue Kings Place has today announced the appointment of Sam McShane to the role of artistic director. Effective from 20 May, McShane will succeed Helen Wallace, who stepped down from the role last month to join the Barbican as head of music.

In her new role McShane will work in partnership with recently appointed executive director Zoë Jeyes to lead on the venue’s creative direction and programming alongside head of artistic planning Rosie Chapman, newly appointed contemporary programme manager Rob Farhat and programme manager Rebecca Millican.

Sam McShane said: ‘For many years I have admired Kings Place as a cultural hub that displays adventurous programming across many art-forms – a beacon of hope for artists to be curious and for audiences to connect. I believe its entrepreneurial beginnings display a model for the future in the arts and I'm incredibly excited about joining the Kings Place family and its community and audiences for the next part of the artistic journey.’ 

Currently creative director at Manchester Camerata, McShane brings to her new role experience gained as the orchestra’s head of creative programming and as head of artistic planning at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. As creative director of Manchester Camerata, McShane has redefined the organisation’s purpose and direction, secured three new artistic partners and established talent development initiative the Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellows.

Kings Place executive chair Peter Millican OBE said: ‘The trustees and I are all delighted that Sam has been appointed to lead the Kings Place programme into its next phase. Sam’s passion for how music and performance can positively impact people’s lives is inspirational. Her rich experience and innovative, risk-taking approach to programming perfectly aligns with the Kings Place ethos. We are all excited to see where her creative direction will lead us.’