New Hotel Art Curator

New Hotel Art Curator in Residence at Seaham Hall

Five-star Seaham Hall is embarking on a new collaboration with Northumbria University, Newcastle, to  bring world-class art to the hotel.  The rolling programme of hotel art exhibitions will be curated by Northumbria graduate and artist Julie Anne Parsons.

Born in County Durham, Julie Anne gained a First Class Honours degree in Fashion Marketing at Northumbria. Following various roles, from Principal Lecturer and Course Director at the London School of Fashion to Managing Director of a lifestyle branding company, Julie Anne is now pursuing an MA in Fine Art at Sunderland University.

Inspired by philosopher Marcel Duchamp, who said: “Art is not about itself, but the attention we bring to it”, Julie Anne proposed her idea of exhibiting works of art at Seaham Hall to the hotel’s General Manager, Ross Grieve, who responded enthusiastically.

Now as the new hotel art Curator in Residence, Julie Anne will oversee a rolling programme of contemporary fine art exhibitions from emerging artists at Northumbria. The University is a leader in the North East cultural sector and is committed to investing in and developing new artistic talent, while working in partnership with key organisations regionally, nationally and internationally.

Julie Anne says: “My vision is to create a living space in beautiful Seaham Hall, to engage and inspire guests and employees alike – a space where people can enjoy being in the moment.”

Ross Grieve says: “Julie Anne’s vision has certainly inspired our team at Seaham Hall, and the hotel art programme seems a very fitting cultural extension to our proud history. Seaham Hall saw many visits from the renowned poet Lord Byron in the early 1800s, and he married here in 1815.”

Julie Anne is currently showing a collection of six of her own works at Seaham Hall. In a few weeks’ time, the paintings of another artist will be displayed for six weeks, followed by another, on an ongoing basis.

LEAD-IN PRICE: A one-night stay at Seaham Hall, in a Junior Suite, costs from £113 pp (two sharing), including VAT and full use of the hotel’s extensive spa facilities from 12 noon on the day of arrival to 12 noon on the day of departure. 

For more information, call Seaham Hall’s expert team on 0191 516 1400 or visit www.seaham-hall.co.uk for ideas and inspiration.