Michael Forbes

Chair

Michael Forbes is an artist curator, co-founder of Primary, and Chair of the Board of trustees.   

Since proposing the concept of studio ownership to Arts Council England in Nottingham in 2003 and taking on the building in 2010, Forbes has committed to Primary’s development and continuous growth. During this period, Primary has joined the Arts Council England National Portfolio, acquired charitable status, and, with support from Arts Council England and Nottingham City Council, purchased the freehold of the building in 2020, thereby creating long term security for resident artists. Forbes also has experience of property design/development and rental accommodation.  

Forbes was the Visual Arts Officer for EMACA (East Midlands African Caribbean Arts), Nottingham, at the Art Exchange, and played a leading role in developing the New Art Exchange, both as a board member and in terms of its early programme.  

Alongside his artistic practice, Forbes has curated a number of exhibitions in Nottingham and nationally. In 2018 he curated a three-person exhibition, Reformation, at Yinka Shonibare’s Guest Projects London, with artists Nadim Chaudry and Barbara Walker MBE.  

Recently, on graduating from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Sculpture, Forbes was awarded the prestigious RCA YSP Graduate Award 2020, a residency at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.