The Southbank Centre has announced that Grace Jones will be the next curator and headliner of its Meltdown festival in 2020.

Launched in 1993, Meltdown is the longest-running artist-curated festival in the world.

From June 12-21, Jones will take over the arts centre for 10 days with a line-up of global names, new talent and artists who have inspired her. 

Jones performed as part of Massive Attack’s Meltdown festival in 2008 and Jarvis Cocker’s line-up in 2007.

Jones said: “I am honoured to be curating next year’s Meltdown festival. Year after year, the festival continues to spread its colourful wings, allowing its curators to bring together an array of diverse talent not seen anywhere else. It’s about time I was asked to curate Meltdown darling, don’t you think?!” 

Bengi Ünsal, head of contemporary music at Southbank Centre, said: “Meltdown offers an unparalleled window into the minds of the greatest musical influencers of our age. There’s no denying it: Grace Jones is unlike anybody else. She was the first artist who made me feel that I could express myself, be whatever I wanted to be, and not be afraid of what the world might say. She is one of the few living artists who can truly be described as iconic, with a relentlessly individualistic vision. I am truly honoured that she will share it with us for Meltdown 2020.”

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