Victoria Siddall Named First Female Director of National Portrait Gallery

Victoria Siddall has made history as the first female director of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in London. She fills the position previously held by Nicholas Cullinan, who left for the British Museum in June.

With over two decades in the arts, Siddall has predominantly worked in the commercial sector. She gained notable recognition in 2012 when she launched Frieze Masters and later became the global director of the contemporary art fair, which takes place annually in London each October.

Siddall has also chaired the board of Studio Voltaire and has been a strong advocate for sustainability in the art world. However, her new role at the NPG marks her first at a major publicly funded arts institution. She steps in following Michael Elliott’s interim directorship, making her only the 13th director in the gallery’s 168-year history.

Siddall arrives at the NPG at a significant moment, following a major £41.3 million refurbishment. The gallery was closed for three years and reopened in June last year with a refreshed layout and new entrance doors commissioned by Tracey Emin.

The reopening was deemed a success, earning the NPG a nomination for Museum of the Year. However, Cullinan’s departure after a nine-year tenure left a leadership void over the summer.

In a statement, Siddall expressed her excitement, calling it “perhaps the most exciting time in the NPG’s history.” She commended Cullinan’s leadership and flawless handling of the reopening and looked forward to working with her new colleagues, museum trustees, supporters, and artists to usher in a new chapter for the gallery.

David Ross, chair of the trustees at the NPG, described Siddall as a “cultural leader” with the vision and determination needed to build on recent successes and guide the gallery into its next stage of development.

While Siddall’s appointment requires approval from the prime minister, it is typically a formality. However, recent years have seen Conservative governments intervene in certain appointments at national museums and galleries.

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, praised Siddall for bringing a wealth of experience to the role. Nandy celebrated the historic appointment and predicted strong leadership would further the gallery’s successes, following its notable reopening last year. She looked forward to seeing what Siddall and the NPG team would achieve in the coming years.

Source: The Guardian