Benjamin Cook Founder Director of LUX steps down after 22 years.
Benjamin Cook, Founder Director of LUX, will step down from his role after 22 years. LUX is extremely grateful for Benjamin’s dedication, enthusiasm and vision. We look forward to working with him closely in the future. Benjamin is leaving to focus on his personal practice as a therapist, coach and facilitator. He will continue his independent consultancy and production work and will step down at the end of this year.
Benjamin founded LUX in 2002 to protect and manage the collection of the former Lux Centre in Hoxton Square after it closed in 2001. Originally based in Dalston, East London, LUX developed what became the UK’s largest collection of film works by visual artists. This became a platform for a range of activities including commissioning, publishing, artist development, education and exhibition. Having worked with many of the key UK artists working with moving image, the development of LUX has mirrored the growing significance of the medium in contemporary visual arts during this time. Benjamin also founded the LUX Associate Artists Programme with late colleague Ian White, an early model of post-academic artists development programmes which supported many key UK artists working with moving image.
In 2014 Benjamin established LUX Scotland, an agency for artists’ moving image support in Scotland based in Glasgow, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. In 2016, he oversaw the relocation of LUX to its current building in Waterlow Park, Highgate. Returning the organisation to Camden where its original predecessor, the London Filmmakers Co-operative had been founded 50 years before. He recently led the process of LUX becoming an accredited national museum.
Benjamin Cook says: “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”.
Alia Syed, Chair of LUX Board of Trustees says: “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 Film-Makers’ 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.”
Kitty Anderson, Director of LUX Scotland says: “It has been an honour to work with Ben over the last five years and I’m incredibly grateful for his support and guidance, both personally and professionally. Ben’s vision has been integral to the shape of LUX Scotland, and I look forward to working closely with our Board of Directors and the brilliant team in London to support LUX as we transition to our next chapter.”
The LUX team says: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ben for his leadership and dedication throughout our time with him. We wish him the very best in the future. While his presence will be deeply missed, we are filled with optimism as we embark on this new chapter of growth and opportunity. The wealth of insights and experience we’ve gained under Ben’s guidance has been invaluable. It will continue to inspire and inform us as we shape the future of LUX. We look forward to honouring and building upon the remarkable legacy he leaves behind, while exploring new possibilities together.”
LUX is an arts organisation that supports and promotes visual artists working with the moving image. Founded as a charity in 2002 it builds on the work of its predecessor organisations the London Filmmakers Co-operative, London Video Arts and the Lux Centre and a history which stretches back to the 1960s.
LUX offers a rolling programme of exhibitions, screenings, workshops, courses and talks as well as a reference library and mediatheque. LUX also represents the UK’s only significant collection of moving image works produced by visual artists dating from the 1920s to the present day, consisting of over 6000 works by more than 1500 artists.
Established in 2014, LUX Scotland is a non-profit agency and project of LUX and provides access to the established resources and international networks of the London-based organisation, which has over 50 years of experience in supporting artists’ moving image practices across the UK.
