Molly Bretton to become Outside In Director in 2026

Molly’s appointment coincides with the retirement of Marc Steene in Spring 2026. As Founder and Director, Marc’s vision and dedication over nearly two decades have shaped Outside In into the nationally and internationally recognised charity it is today. Under his leadership, thousands of artists who face barriers to the art world have found opportunities to share their work and their voices.

Molly’s most recent role has been as Head of Learning and Public Programmes at the Royal Academy of Arts, where she has led strategy and management at senior level while also advising across the organisation on accessibility and inclusion. She previously worked as Access and Community Manager at the RA, developing programmes for disabled audiences and training staff to embed inclusive practice, and she also serves as an independent expert member of the Collections Advisory Group at the UK Parliament, supporting access, inclusion and engagement across the in-house collections. She also consulted for the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Old Royal Naval College, and previously worked for Shape Arts, supporting disabled people to access arts and culture. She has continued to champion inclusive practice through her leadership, consultancy and governance roles.

Molly says:

“I am thrilled and honoured to have been appointed as Director of Outside In. I share in its mission to support and champion artists facing considerable barriers to the art world and in its vision for a creative landscape in which a broad array of artists are seen and celebrated.

“The art world is poorer when we ignore, exclude or ‘other’ aspects of creativity from our shared history and experience of art making. I look forward to working with the skilled and dedicated staff, Trustees, patrons and stakeholders to lead the charity following the achievements of founding Director Marc Steene, and to driving forward the vision of a richer artworld that respects and celebrates the full breadth of human experience and creativity.”