Appointments & departures
Kim Sajet, director of US National Portrait Gallery whom Trump tried to fire, resigns
Sajet said it was “not an easy decision” but “the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart”
Leader of Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum to depart after a decade at the helm
As director and chief executive, Josh Basseches has overseen far-reaching changes at the institution
Former Hepworth Wakefield director appointed chief executive of London's Royal Academy
Following a restructure and redundancies, Simon Wallis replaces Axel Rüger in the role
Berlin museums’ first woman leader plans to tackle reforms and construction
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, now led by Marion Ackermann, is currently undergoing major structural changes
Trump claims he has fired director of US National Portrait Gallery
It is not clear the president has the authority to make staffing decisions for the gallery, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution
Former Cromwell Place chief appointed director of Glasgow International
Helen Nisbet will lead the Scottish art festival as it launches its 11th edition next year
Creative Australia chair to retire following Venice Biennale controversy
Creative Australia’s chief executive has said Morgan’s decision is unrelated to the scandal over the artist Khaled Sabsabi being dropped from the nation’s 2026 Venice Biennale team
‘It’s a dream vessel for me’: Defne Ayas appointed new director of the Van Abbemuseum
Ayas replaces Charles Esche, who has been in post for two decades, taking the reins ahead of the museum’s 90th anniversary in 2026
Christie’s names new global president
Alex Rotter's promotion is the latest senior management shuffle at the auction house since Guillaume Cerutti stepped down
Pierre Terjanian named next director of MFA Boston
The longtime curator of arms and armour has served as the museum’s chief of curatorial affairs and conservation since January 2024
Former Tate chief appointed inaugural chair of Gallery Climate Coalition
Frances Morris says she will be regaining a climate advocacy role at a crucial moment
MoMA picks chief curator of prints and drawings as next director
Christophe Cherix will replace Glenn Lowry, who has been the museum’s director since 1995 and guided it through two important expansions
Vancouver Art Gallery parts ways with director and chief executive Anthony Kiendl
Kiendl’s departure comes a few months after the gallery pulled the plug on an ambitious but costly building project it had already spent C$60m on
UK government announces raft of new museum trustees, including artist Isaac Julien and ‘Traitors’ presenter Claudia Winkleman
Appointments have been made at the British Museum, Tate and Victoria and Albert Museum
Edward Gillman appointed director of London’s Chisenhale Gallery
Gillman, who was previously the director of Auto Italia in London, will replace Zoé Whitley, who stepped down in 2024
New leadership marks a fresh chapter for Tefaf
Dominique Savelkoul, Tefaf’s new managing director, looks to steady the art foundation after a tough few years and set it on a new path for the future
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s director will depart before institution opens
George Lucas, the “Star Wars” film-maker and co-founder of the museum, will take on a programming role following Sandra Jackson-Dumont’s departure
British Art Market Federation appoints new chairman Tom Christopherson
The lawyer and auction house legal consultant succeeds Martin Wilson, who was named chief executive of Phillips last month
SFMoMA fires contemporary art curator Eungie Joo amid misconduct allegations
Joo had joined the museum in 2017 as its first contemporary art curator and most recently organised an ambitious project by Kara Walker
Phillips auction house executive chairman Ed Dolman resigns
Martin Wilson, the chairman of the British Art Market Federation (Bamf), is joining as chief executive and will oversee global operations
Naomi Beckwith named artistic director of Documenta in 2027
The deputy director and chief curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum says she is "humbled by the breadth of this responsibility"
Zoé Whitley to step down as director of London's Chisenhale Gallery
Whitley’s five year tenure resulted in 15 exhibitions
Smithsonian American Art Museum’s director removed following staff complaints
Stephanie Stebich, who had led the institution since 2017, has been reassigned to a senior advisory role
Guggenheim Bilbao appoints Miren Arzalluz as director
Currently the director of the Paris Fashion Museum-Palais Galliera, she will take over from Juan Ignacio Vidarte in April 2025
Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Michael Brand, to step down
The Asian art scholar spent much of his tenure overseeing the museum's redevelopment project, Sydney Modern, which doubled the institution’s exhibition capacity
Darren Walker elected board president of US National Gallery of Art
Walker has led the New York-based Ford Foundation for the past 11 years
Musée des Arts Décoratifs director Christine Macel leaves for advisory role amid allegations of dysfunction at the museum
Two years after her appointment, the star curator described her early exit from the Paris museum as “a relief”
Hammer Museum names new leader to succeed longtime director Ann Philbin
Zoë Ryan, currently the director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania, will take the helm at the Hammer in the new year
MoMA’s longtime director Glenn Lowry will step down in 2025
Lowry’s 30-year tenure at the museum included many milestones, from the merger that created MoMA PS1 to multiple renovations and expansions
Italy names new culture minister following appointments scandal
Alessandro Giuli, who heads up Rome's Maxxi museum, replaces Gennaro Sangiuliano in the right-wing government role