Alison Cole is Editor of The Art Newspaper, the journal of record of the international art world. She has worked as an Executive Director for some of the UK’s leading cultural organisations, including The Art Fund, Southbank Centre and Arts Council England. Over the last 20 years, she has built a reputation as an expert in strategic communications, advocacy, campaigns, digital initiatives, idea generation and brokering partnerships. Her approach combines creativity, common sense, political acumen, knowledge and innovation with exceptional analytical skills and enthusiasm, even when faced with the most challenging brief.

In addition to providing specialist services to both the public and private sector, she is an established author and journalist, writing books on art history, editing art journals, drafting policy, reviewing exhibitions and writing reviews and features for publications such as The Independent, The Arts Desk, Country Life and Art Quarterly. Her latest book on Michelangelo was published by the Royal Academy in March 2017.

She is also a Trustee of the Foundling Museum, an Adviser to the Institute of the Imagination, Learning Adviser to Art UK and a member of the Critics Circle.