Spike Island’s Director, Robert Leckie, has been appointed as the new Director of Gasworks and will take up his new position in March 2024.

Leckie joined Spike Island in 2018 and was previously Curator and Head of Programmes at Gasworks from 2011 to 2018. During his tenure at Spike Island, Leckie has overseen many key developments for the organisation, including leading a critically acclaimed artistic programme and cementing Spike Island’s commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion by building an increasingly diverse staff team and Board of Trustees. Leckie has also contributed to the development of the South West’s visual arts sector more widely by leading the West of England Visual Arts Alliance consortium, which has enabled new commissioning, fellowship and bursary opportunities for early career artists from underrepresented backgrounds.

Robert Leckie said: 

“It has been an honour to lead Spike Island over the past five years. I am very proud of all that my colleagues and I have achieved during this time. The organisation is currently thriving, with a dedicated team and Board, a unique business model, a great programme, and a wonderful community. Together we have managed to shift the dial on Spike Island’s role and reputation. Thanks to a critically-acclaimed artistic programme, we have increased our audiences by forty percent, while leading the West of England Visual Arts Alliance consortium has enabled us to enhance our impact throughout the West of England region. I am confident that the organisation has a bright future ahead.” 

Judith Squires, Chair, said: 

“We are very sorry to see Robert Leckie leave us. Robert has been an outstanding Director, further enhancing Spike Island’s standing as the leading arts centre in the South West region. Under his leadership, its ambitious and high-quality artistic programme has continued to go from strength to strength, from outstanding solo exhibitions by Candice Lin, Lawrence Abu Hamdan and Tanoa Sasraku, to major survey shows by Pacita Abad, Peggy Ahwesh and Rosemary Mayer. As Director, Robert has also played an invaluable role in overseeing the continued provision of accessible workspace to studio holders, Spike Island Associates members, businesses and students, ensuring that Spike Island has continued to play a significant role in supporting a vibrant regional artistic and cultural community. The Board of Trustees wish Robert well for his future role as Director of Gasworks, and look forward to appointing a worthy successor early in the new year.”