Home / Arts and Entertainment / Arts Director's Shock Exit Sparks Cultural Uproar
Arts Director's Shock Exit Sparks Cultural Uproar
19 Feb
Summary
- Devyani Saltzman, arts director, departs Barbican after a brief tenure.
- Over 170 cultural figures signed a letter expressing concern.
- Her exit coincides with the arrival of a new chief executive.
Devyani Saltzman, the arts director at the Barbican, is set to leave the institution in May. Her departure follows a brief tenure that began in February 2024 and has sparked significant concern among cultural leaders. Over 170 prominent figures, including Salman Rushdie, John Akomfrah, and Anoushka Shankar, have signed an open letter expressing alarm at her exit.
Signatories highlighted that Saltzman's departure, coinciding with the arrival of a new chief executive, raises serious questions about the Barbican's commitment to sustaining global majority leadership. They are calling for public clarification from the Barbican board and the City of London Corporation regarding the processes leading to this decision.
Saltzman, recently recognized as one of the UK's most influential women in the arts, had outlined a five-year creative vision for the Barbican. Her exit, with no plans for a replacement, comes after a period of leadership changes at the venue, including previous departures amid allegations of institutional racism.
