The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process to fill this dynamic leadership role. Sophie will join the staff of Project Arts Centre in early August 2024.
Sophie Motley is an artist and arts leader with over 15 years experience creating, programming and platforming work across the island of Ireland as well as internationally. Her most recent role was Artistic Director of The Everyman, Cork. At The Everyman, Sophie established multiple artist and art practice development programmes, initiated new community engagement programmes with key partners across Cork city, and led the organisation in the support of over 300 artists and the presentation of 90 productions annually. Sophie previously worked as Artistic Director/CEO of Pentabus Theatre (UK, national rural theatre company). Working at Pentabus, Sophie made work with leading creative teams, bringing communities and young people together, and presented outstanding contemporary productions in isolated rural communities as well as presenting rural stories in urban settings. Sophie is Co-Artistic Director of WillFredd Theatre and was Associate Director of Rough Magic from 2010 to 2016. Throughout her career Sophie has focused on work that engages in contemporary culture and entices and involves audiences.
Speaking on her appointment, Sophie Motley says:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Project Arts Centre. Project is an organisation that puts artists at the centre of its existence, I’ve been privileged to be one of those artists at the beginning of my career, and I look forward to working with the team supporting, developing and presenting the very best of contemporary work in Ireland and internationally. Project is the home of artists and of contemporary excellence, it is also the home of the new, the challenging, and I hope to see many new audiences, artists, communities, stories and forms being created for the first time locally, nationally and internationally on this very exciting journey.”
Commenting on this new appointment, Chair of Project Arts Centre’s Board Monica Flood says:
“On behalf of the Board of Project Arts Centre, I am thrilled that Sophie Motley will be the next Artistic Director/ CEO. Sophie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Project from her work in Ireland and abroad. We look forward to working with Sophie on delivering the current five-year strategy and imagining future possibilities for the years to come.”
Commenting on this new appointment, Executive Director of Project Arts Centre Orla Moloney says:
“We look forward to new creative adventures with Sophie, whose track record resonates strongly with Project’s priorities in the areas of Artist Supports and Audience Development. With her first-hand experience as a practicing artist as well as in arts management, Sophie will bring valuable insights at a time when Project is in the process of restructuring its artist support programme and embarking on a new European project which promotes dance artists with disabilities.”
The Board of Project Arts Centre is delighted to welcome Sophie to the team and looks forward to working with her to drive their strategy forward and maintain their position as Ireland’s leading contemporary arts centre under the leadership of both Artistic Director/CEO Sophie Motley and Executive Director Orla Moloney.
For all media enquiries, please contact kateobrien@projectartscentre.ie
