Appointments

Sicilian town seeks director to run its civic museum—for free

The town of Aci has attracted criticism for wanting to hire a new head for the Civic Museum of the Norman Castle of Svevo, who must be educated to degree level, but will not be paid

Axel Rüger leaves London’s Royal Academy for New York's Frick Collection

The RA chief, who saw the institution through the Covid-19 pandemic, will replace Ian Wardropper next spring

Rome’s Maxxi museum ousts dentist to appoint second interim president in a week

An art historian and journalist has been chosen to replace dentistry teacher Raffaella Docimo, who recently took up the role amid a wave of criticism

After controversy, Tefaf appoints fifth managing director in four years

Dominique Savelkoul recently served as director of the Mu.Zee museum in Oostende, Belgium

Zagreb collective WHW named creative directors of Skulptur Projekte Münster

The three curators, Ivet Ćurlin, Nataša Ilić and Sabina Sabolović, were selected by a seven-member committee to lead the 2027 edition, which marks the event’s 50th anniversary

Whitney Museum selects two staff curators to lead 2026 biennial

The 82nd edition of the most closely-watched recurring exhibition in the United States will open in spring 2026

Bonhams appoints former luxury goods head as global chief executive

Chabi Nouri, who previously led the watch and jewellery company Piaget, replaces Bruno Vinciguerra

Troubled Brussels fine arts museums pin hopes on new director

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Brussels was hit by scandal last year when its longstanding director stood down following allegations of inappropriate behaviour and bad management

Hartwig Fischer, former British Museum director, is appointed to run Saudi museum of world cultures

Fischer, who resigned after a thefts scandal at the British Museum, has been announced as the founding director of the new institution, which is expected to open in 2026

Marion Ackermann appointed first woman to run Berlin state museums

Ackermann is to take up the post in June 2025 after nine years managing Dresden’s state art collections

Icom names Medea Ekner as director general

Ekner, who was appointed interim director general last year, has 25 years of museum experience in Sweden and New Zealand

Hoor Al Qasimi named artistic director of the next Biennale of Sydney

Al Qasimi is the president and director of the Sharjah Art Foundation

Sylvain Amic is appointed chairman of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris

Former head of Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen takes over at a time of central government cuts to cultural institutions in Paris

Austria names Fatima Hellberg to run Mumok, Vienna’s museum of Modern art

Currently director of Bonn’s Kunstverein, Hellberg takes up her new post in October 2025

Kim Conaty, curator of prints and drawings at the Whitney Museum, promoted to chief curator

She was the curator of the museum's blockbuster Edward Hopper and critically acclaimed Ruth Asawa exhibitions

Nicholas Cullinan is appointed director of the British Museum

Cullinan, currently the director of the National Portrait Gallery, faces an array of challenges in rebuilding the oldest national museum in the world’s reputation

Canadian curators take the reins at UK institutions, Barbican and Spike Island

Devyani Saltzman is new arts director at City of London venue while Nicole Yip replaces Robert Leckie in Bristol

Former Musée D’Orsay director announced as new chair of Versailles

Christophe Leribault’s move ends a controversy around the extended tenure of his predecessor

Is Italy’s government meddling in who runs top museums?

Cultural figures voice concern about culture ministry’s appointments to run institutions including Florence’s Uffizi Galleries and Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera

Liverpool Biennial announces curator for 2025

Marie-Anne McQuay previously worked at the city's Bluecoat art centre, and currently holds positions including member of Arts Council Collection’s acquisitions committee

Right-wing veteran Rachida Dati appointed as France's new culture minister

Macron's appointment has taken the culture sector by surprise

Who wants to be the next British Museum director? Post advertised with a salary of £216,000

Successful candidate will have their work cut out for them to restore the institution's reputation after last year's theft scandal

Kevser Güler named new director of Istanbul Biennial

The decision comes in the aftermath of a controversy surrounding the appointment of the exhibition's curator

New Courtauld director Mark Hallett promises to ‘shout about’ art history’s importance

College chief faces double challenge of fundraising for renovation and diversifying the student body at the UK’s leading art institute

Bige Örer, director of the Istanbul Biennial, steps down after tumultuous year

Turkish arts chief says her decision is not prompted by controversy over curator selection

Jack Lang is re-elected chair of the Institut du Monde Arabe, securing his fourth term

The 84-year-old—the only candidate in the running— has extended a Palestinian culture season

Gasworks contemporary art centre in London appoints Robert Leckie as new director

Former Turner Prize judge replaces Alessio Antoniolli who has been in post for 18 years

UK's Royal College of Art appoints Christoph Lindner as vice-chancellor

The new president's previous roles have included a focus on the climate crisis

Italy appoints right-wing journalist as Venice Biennale president

Members of Italy’s ruling coalition have described the 128-year-old exhibition as a "fiefdom" of the left