Liverpool Biennial has announced Marie-Anne McQuay’s appointment as Curator for the 13th edition, taking place 7 June – 14 September 2025. McQuay will be seconded to curate the Biennial – the largest festival of contemporary visual art in the UK – returning to her current role as Director of Projects at Arts&Heritage in Autumn 2025.
Marie-Anne McQuay, Curator, Liverpool Biennial 2025, said:
I feel honoured to be curating the 13th edition of Liverpool Biennial with and for the city where I live. I am so looking forward to reflecting on civic life, researching international exchanges, and collaborating with the wider team on Liverpool Biennial 2025.
Dr Samantha Lackey, Director, Liverpool Biennial, said:
We are thrilled to be welcoming Marie-Anne to the team for Liverpool Biennial 2025. Her longstanding relationship with the city of Liverpool will bring insight and intention to every part of the next festival, re-thinking the city’s changing relationships to the rest of the world. I look forward to working with Marie-Anne, our partners and artists across the city over the coming months as we begin to bring the festival to life.
Liverpool Biennial 2025, 7th June – 14th September 2025 biennial.com
The 12th edition of Liverpool Biennial, ‘uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things’ took place from 10 June – 17 September 2023 and was curated by Khanyisile Mbongwa. The independent evaluation of LB2023 can be viewed here.
Liverpool Biennial is supported by Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council and founding supporter James Moores.
About
Before joining Arts&Heritage as Director of Projects, Marie-Anne McQuay was Head of Programme at the Bluecoat, Liverpool (2015 – June 2022) where she curated exhibitions and commissions by Larissa Sansour, Adham Faramawy, Suki Chan, Jade Montserrat, Serena Korda, Jonathan Baldock, Elaine Mitchener, Rosa-Johan Uddoh, Sumuyya Khader, Frances Disley and Grace Ndiritu.
She was Guest International Curator for Wales in Venice 2019 with artist Sean Edwards and Ty Pawb, Wrexham. Previously Marie-Anne was Curator at Spike Island, Bristol (2007-2013), working with artists including Elizabeth Price, Laure Prouvost, Can Altay, Sonia Boyce, Cevdet Erek, Haroon Mirza, Cezary Bodzianowski, Melissa Gordon, Amanda Beech, Sean Edwards, Uriel Orlow and Jesse Jones.
She is currently part of the Arts Council Collection Acquisitions Committee 2022-25, on the Advisory of Board of At The Library, a programme of artist-led workshops, projects, commissions and happenings in community libraries in Bootle, Crosby and Netherton, and External Examiner for Art Galleries & Museum Studies MA, University of Leicester 2023-26.
