Devyani Saltzman, the director of arts and participation at the Barbican Centre in London, is leaving her post after only 18 months in the role. According toThe Stage, Saltzman was made redundant. In a statement, Saltzman says the move is “due to an organisational restructure” and that her role will not be replaced.
Saltzman recently announced a five-year creative vision for the venue, saying last June: “At a time of deep international geopolitical and technological change, our ideas-led, seasonal approach allows us tangibly to respond to the world today, through a programme that allows audiences to see the world holistically, in a wholly new light: interconnected, and always evolving.” In January a new chief executive, Abigail Pogson, started at the central London arts venue, which draws around 1.5 million people annually.
Saltzman, appointed in 2024, was previously the director of public programming at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. “Key to her vision for the next chapter of the Barbican is the potential to create a new type of ethos in public institutions that is truly in service to their people and public, in addition to presenting the best of cutting-edge programming,” said a press statement on her appointment.
‘Joy of collaboration’
In her statement about her departure, posted on 17 February, she said: “This chapter has been defined by the joy of collaboration, ambition, and bold programming. Working alongside an exceptional team of leaders, curators, programmers and producers, we set out to reimagine the Barbican’s artistic future at a pivotal moment. Together, we designed and delivered a bold reset of the artistic vision (2025-30), positioning the centre as a global platform for interdisciplinary practice, international exchange and urgent cultural dialogue."
She thanked the Barbican board, the City of London Corporation, the Barbican’s global partners, resident companies and associates, supporters, artists and internal team. She continued: “I am excited for the next chapter: continuing to work internationally, contributing to global conversations including at the Hong Kong International Cultural Summit and the Venice Biennale, developing new partnerships, contributing to global cultural strategy, and preparing for the publication of my forthcoming book, Exiting: Towards a Future of Work that Serves Us All, in early 2027.”
The Barbican said in a statement: “The Barbican Centre today announces that, after two highly successful years, Devyani Saltzman will be departing from her role as director for arts in May 2026, following a phase of artistic and organisational transition as the centre prepares for the first stage of Barbican Renewal. Her tenure concludes a complete reset of the Barbican Centre’s Artistic Vision and commissioning key pillars of the main programme until the planned closure in 2028.”
The statement listed her achievements in detail, including “the continued development of large-scale public art commissions, such as this spring’s first UK commission by Colombian artist Delcy Morelo.” It said: “During her tenure, Devyani led the development of a coherent cross-arts strategy, re-establishing the Barbican’s role as a global cultural convenor and setting out the clear artistic pillars… The Barbican thanks Devyani for driving a cross-arts narrative and artistic vision, both of which are rooted in the pressing conversations of our time.”
Saltzman’s departure caps a turbulent time for the Barbican. In 2021 the Barbican Centre carried out an extensive staff reorganisation following the publication of a book that included more than 100 alleged instances of prejudicial behaviour at its venue.
Will Gompertz was appointed director of arts and learning at the Barbican in March 2021, later becoming its artistic director. In late 2023 he left the museum after being appointed the director of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London. Gompertz was at the forefront of implementing the organisation’s anti-racism plan.
In 2023, meanwhile, a display at the Barbican’s Curve Gallery by the Resolve Collective was taken down by the artist group after it accused Barbican staff of censoring a talk at the centre.
According to The Guardian, Saltzman had been seen “as a figure who helped repair trust between the organisation and sections of the artistic community”.
Saltzman said in her statement: “We [Barbican staff and Saltzman] focused on breaking down boundaries between art forms, whilst also honouring individual disciplinary programmes, and strengthening the Barbican’s role as a global cultural convenor. The most profound shift happened internally, creating new cross-arts structures that enabled teams to collaborate and work as one institution that centred deeper engagement with artists and audiences worldwide.”