MARGATE.- It was announced last week that Victoria Pomery, Director of Turner Contemporary has been awarded an OBE for services to the arts. The award recognises her outstanding contribution over the past 10 years to Turner Contemporary and the wider arts in East Kent.

Since 2002, Victoria has overseen the extraordinary development of Turner Contemporary culminating in the gallery’s opening in April last year. In the early years Victoria advocated for the gallery regionally and nationally and undertook an in depth body of audience development work which included new commissions and exhibitions in and around Margate.

Victoria was a member of the panel that selected Sir David Chipperfield to construct the gallery in 2006 and worked closely with the architects to ensure that the building would fulfil the organisation’s needs. In addition, Victoria provided the artistic vision and leadership for the organisation as it expanded and moved into the new gallery.

Victoria is actively engaged in the visual arts regionally and nationally. Recently she was on the panel which selected Jeremy Deller to represent the UK at the next Venice Biennale. She is a board member of Strange Cargo and is a member of the Arts Council England, South East Visual Arts Strategy Group and plays an active role in the Plus Tate network.

John Kampfner, Chair Turner Contemporary, said ‘For more than a decade, Victoria has worked to bring the dream of Turner Contemporary to reality. She has done so with artistic vision, with tenacity and with a great understanding of the social and economic benefits that culture-led regeneration can bring. This honour is deserved recognition for an arts leader of which Britain can feel proud.’

Victoria Pomery, Director Turner Contemporary, said 'I am surprised and thrilled to have received this award. The past 10 years has been an amazing personal journey and I am so grateful to all my colleagues, friends and family who have supported me in developing Turner Contemporary.'