Dubai, United Arab Emirates
With over 6 years of experience across Asia and Europe, I specialize in the strategic planning and delivery of high-profile exhibitions, commissions, and touring programmes. My work focuses on bridging institutional planning with the operational logic of cultural management. Working with platforms such as Art Jameel, Art Dubai, and the Venice Biennale, I manage complex workflows, multi-year budgeting, and high-stakes logistics required to deliver ambitious projects for museums and global institutions.
- Project direction and governance: Directing end-to-end delivery for large-scale exhibitions and commissions across multiple venues; managing the simultaneous execution of 10+ projects per year and the master institutional calendar; overseeing complex logistics, including international shipping and installation cycles; controlling multi-year departmental budgets and financial forecasting; leading the negotiation of complex legal frameworks and high-value agreements; managing institutional risk through strategic contingency planning. - Institutional strategy and planning: Contributing strategic input on operational and conceptual frameworks of exhibition-making; advising on institutional planning, touring models, and partnership structures for complex cultural initiatives; leading feasibility studies and sustainable budgeting models to scale institutional programming. - Team leadership: Supporting departmental leadership by integrating complex workflows; leading team development through direct mentoring of staff; driving cross-functional alignment between teams to ensure programme coherence and maintain world-class museum standards; implementing digital solutions to optimise departmental efficiency. - Global partnerships and outreach: Leading the development of international partnerships to enable touring exhibitions and collaborative programmes; managing relationships with institutions across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe; leading negotiations to expand reach and secure strategic collaborations; representing the institution at major international forums.
- Project management: Managing the end-to-end planning and delivery of exhibitions; overseeing the institutional exhibitions calendar, shipping logistics, and installation schedules; developing artwork checklists in collaboration with the Curatorial team; maintaining gallery spaces by advising on security deployment, cleaning protocols, and maintenance requirements. - Touring shows: Identifying and securing relevant touring partners locally and internationally; developing comprehensive touring packs; managing relationships with guest curators, artists, galleries, and institutions to scout and execute touring opportunities. - Finance, legal, and administration: Developing, tracking, and reporting on exhibition budgets; overseeing financial administration and expenditure; negotiating and drafting complex contracts and legal agreements, including artist commissions and international loan agreements; maintaining rigorous filing systems for administrative and legal compliance.
- Exhibitor relations management: Coordinating outreach to target galleries and sponsorship opportunities; managing communications for 120+ participating galleries, institutions, and curators; strategising and signing off on participant kits, manuals, and venue maps; analysing participant data and post-event surveys to report on overall performance to the Directors. - Curatorial input: Assessing the thematic and curatorial direction of the fair alongside the Directors; briefing the team on artists, institutions, and platforms for workshops, commissions, and talks, including the digital art programme. - Budget management and finance: Governing a 7-figure budget; managing revenue projections, expenditure, and the negotiation of contracts, agreements, and payment plans. - Production, logistics and on-site operations: Managing technical floor plans across 4,000 m²; overseeing exhibition design, signage, and booth layouts; synchronising shipping and installation schedules with contractors, shippers, and art handlers; reviewing sustainability and operational processes with the Production Team. - Digital platforms: Overseeing the development and updates of the Application Portal, Gallery Portal, and Online Catalogue; managing gallery profiles across the website and mobile app. - Staffing: Managing the recruitment and training of a high-performance team on a seasonal cycle.
- Exhibitions and art fairs: Managing two exhibition spaces (350 m²); overseeing exhibition design and installation; identifying and hiring suppliers; managing international transportation, logistics, customs, and insurance. - Events and programme: Delivering openings (150+ guests), private views, book launches, workshops, performances, and curated VIP experiences. - Project management: Producing 9 in-house exhibitions featuring 42 artists, 5 public art installations, and 9 art fairs; managing collaborations with La Biennale, the UAE National Pavilion, Centre Pompidou, Museo Reina Sofia, and the Italian Ministry of Culture. - Sales and commercial growth: Driving revenue through the strategic management of institutional and private collector relations; designing price lists, high-end portfolios, and sales collateral. - Budget and administration: Overseeing invoices, budgets, and contracts; maintaining digital and physical archives; managing the recruitment and training of gallery trainees. - Communications and outreach: Drafting press kits and coordinating press conferences; managing advertising and social media strategy; copy-editing texts for publications and liaising with artists, curators, and press.
- Community engagement: Developing the Community Database, a comprehensive archive of artists and practitioners who have collaborated with 421 projects and exhibitions from 2015 to 2020.j