Alistair Hudson

Alistair Hudson is an internationally active curator and museum director. He combines contemporary curatorial practice with deep insight into the relationship between art, technology, and society. Formerly Director of the Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth, University of Manchester—where he was also Professor of Useful Art—Hudson developed the concept of the “useful museum,” envisioning art institutions as agents of social responsibility and transformation. He also co-directs the Asociación de Arte Útil, a growing international network which collaborates with other institutions such as the Van Abbemuseum (Eindhoven, the Netherlands), INSTAR (Havanna, Cuba), and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco, USA). Previously, Hudson has held positions at Grizedale Arts, the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, and the UK Government Art Collection, and has served on juries for major prizes including the Turner Prize and Artes Mundi.Last Updated: 2025.11