New Art Exchange

Who we are

New Art Exchange (NAE) is the UK’s largest gallery dedicated to contemporary visual arts from the Global Ethnic Majority*. We set out to reshape the contemporary art narrative by championing diversity and inclusivity and by providing a platform for underrepresented voices in the art world.

Our vision is for talent from the Global Ethnic Majority to be recognised, nurtured, and celebrated. We’re here to champion inclusivity and equity in the creative industries.

NAE is not just a gallery – you’ll find it a vibrant hub of creativity and culture, actively breaking down barriers to make art accessible and engaging for everyone. We’re all about community connection and transforming ideas into opportunities for artistic and cultural expression. Our focus on co-design and collaboration means we nurture citizen leadership by allowing local voices to guide how we do things. We are the first cultural institution in the world to establish a permanent citizen assembly as a key part of our leadership. This is how we ensure continuous community representation and involvement.

In 2023, as NAE celebrated its 15th anniversary, the organisation also became the most-funded cultural institution in the UK to be led by a Global Ethnic Majority Chief Executive Officer and the fifth-most-funded gallery in the country. This established NAE as a key cultural institution nationally and provided a mandate for its mission, vision, and future ambitions.

Our culture and values

New Art Exchange is proud to be the first cultural institution worldwide to host a permanent Citizen Assembly as part of its core leadership structure. This is an exciting opportunity for people in our community to connect and contribute to shaping the vision and strategy for the work we deliver in our neighbourhood.

This innovative and progressive leadership model sets out to create a dynamic and interconnected framework that balances strategy with public involvement and operational excellence. It ensures that our local activities are responsive to Hyson Green’s ambitions while being aligned with our mission and goals.

Together with the Executive Team and the Board of Trustees, the VOICE Assembly will form our Three-Pillar Leadership model. This signifies an ongoing, evolving dialogue with our neighbourhood, shaping the future of art and culture in a meaningful, citizen-led manner.

This is the first time worldwide that a cultural institution has integrated a Citizen Assembly as a permanent part of its leadership. This means that our model is in continuous development and is expected to evolve and mature through our engagement with and feedback from the VOICE Assembly. We aim to create a global blueprint that enhances cultural institutions’ relevance, legitimacy, and sustainability by fostering deeper connections and collaborations with the communities and citizens they serve.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Through our commitment to informing and promoting the relationship between art and society, NAE strives to make increasingly visible the contribution of diverse voices to this agenda. Our people are at the core of what we do and reflect throughout the organisation.

We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups in the creative sector, in particular those from the following: global ethnic majority, disabled, LGBTQIA+ and those facing social barriers to accessing the arts.

We are taking positive action by guaranteeing an interview to any applicant who self-identifies as being from a Global Ethnic Majority background, who are currently underrepresented in our workforce, and has demonstrable experience of facilities management in a venue/building. If you regard yourself as someone who meets these criteria, please state so clearly on your supporting statement.

If you require any support to be able to take part in the interview process, please let us know when you apply, and we will ensure our interview process is accessible for you.