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James Taylor-Foster Appointed Executive Director of Hong Kong's Para Site as It Turns 30

institutional · 2026-03-19

James Taylor-Foster, a 33-year-old curator from Britain, has recently taken on the role of executive director at Para Site, a non-profit organization in Hong Kong that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. He assumed this position last month, filling a vacancy that had persisted for almost a year. Unlike his predecessors, Taylor-Foster, who is easily recognizable by his bleached blond hair and active online presence, comes from a background in architecture and design. His previous roles include nine years at ArkDes in Sweden and co-curating the international exhibition Weird Sensation Feels Good: The World of ASMR. Founded in 1996 by seven artists, Para Site has become a prominent institution, and Taylor-Foster plans to integrate creative practices while relocating the organization from Quarry Bay to boost audience interaction.

Key facts

  • James Taylor-Foster, 33, was appointed executive director of Para Site in July 2026, ending a year-long vacancy.
  • Para Site celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, having been founded in 1996 by seven Hong Kong artists.
  • Taylor-Foster previously worked at ArkDes, Sweden's national museum of architecture and design, for nearly a decade.
  • He co-curated the exhibition 'Weird Sensation Feels Good: The World of ASMR,' which toured internationally and reached Hong Kong in 2025.
  • He contributed twice to the Nordic Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
  • Former Para Site directors include Tobias Berger, Cosmin Costinas, and Billy Tang.
  • Hong Kong's cultural landscape now features M+, Tai Kwun, CHAT, and Art Basel Hong Kong (since 2013).
  • Taylor-Foster plans to relocate Para Site from Quarry Bay and lower the threshold for audience engagement.

Entities

Artists

  • James Taylor-Foster
  • Tobias Berger
  • Cosmin Costinas
  • Billy Tang
  • Ray Leung

Institutions

  • Para Site
  • ArkDes
  • Moderna Museet
  • M+
  • Tai Kwun
  • Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT)
  • Art Basel Hong Kong
  • Venice Architecture Biennale
  • Nordic Pavilion
  • The Design Museum
  • MMCA
  • Sharjah Art Foundation
  • Venice Biennale
  • Nordic Countries Pavilion
  • GATE33 Gallery
  • Design Museum

Locations

  • Hong Kong
  • China
  • Quarry Bay
  • Sweden
  • Venice
  • Italy
  • Asia
  • Stockholm
  • London
  • Seoul
  • Sharjah

Sources