Adelaide Bannerman
Founder and Director of LUX, BENJAMIN COOK, will step down from his role after 22 years.
The UK’s largest collection of film works by visual artists, Cook founded LUX in 2002 to protect and manage the collection of the former Lux Centre in Hoxton Square after it closed.
The charity is built on the work of predecessor organisations, the London Filmmakers Co-operative, London Video Arts and the Lux Centre.
During his tenure, Cook launched the LUX Associate Artists Programme, which offers support to post-academic artists working with moving images. In 2014, he established LUX Scotland in Glasgow.
ALIA SYED, Chair of the LUX Board of Trustees, said: “For 22 years, Benjamin Cook has been a constant in the lives of many artists working in moving image across the UK and beyond—he will be sorely missed.
“In 2016 Benjamin secured a new location to house the legacy of both The London Filmmakers’ Co-operative and London Video Arts and laid the foundation to secure the future of a world-renowned collection that has recently received museum accreditation.
"Many of Benjamin’s approaches helped LUX to maintain its radical tradition with integrity and soul. Benjamin leaves LUX as an established and vital part of the national and international cultural landscape, representing incredible artists and with an excellent team.”
Cook added, “It has been a huge privilege to lead LUX and contribute to the rich legacy of artists' moving image practice that the organisation represents and the large network of artists and collaborators have become my beloved extended family.
"In this time it has been wonderful to see artists' moving image move from the periphery to the centre as one of the preeminent forms in contemporary visual arts. I am grateful to my colleagues and everyone who I’ve had the honour to work with over the years, I'm excited to see what happens next and I will always care deeply about LUX, LUX Scotland and its communities”.