Gompertz to leave Barbican for Soane’s Museum

Artistic Director of the Barbican WILL GOMPERTZ has been appointed Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum and will take up the post in January 2024.

Gompertz succeeds Dr BRUCE BOUCHER who steps down from the Holborn museum at the end of this year following eight years at the helm.

Under Boucher’s leadership, the museum has undergone a restoration project and attracted record visitor numbers in 2022/23. 

Since 2021, Gompertz has been Artistic Director of the Barbican, leading the organisation’s post-pandemic reopening and programming. 

Before that, he spent eleven years at the BBC as Arts Editor and seven years as Director of Tate Media. 

CEO of the Barbican CLAIRE SPENCER said Gompertz leaves a “strong legacy of projects delivered and still in development” and his “positive impact” will be felt for years to come.

Sir John Soane’s Museum Chair LORD SASSOON said Gompertz is “one of today’s leading thinkers and communicators across the arts” and will be a “worthy successor” to Boucher. 

Gompertz commented: “I am delighted to be joining Sir John Soane’s Museum at such an exciting time, following decades of restoration across the renowned architect’s extraordinary house and collection led by its brilliant conservators, curators and previous directors.” 

“I look forward to championing the museum and Soane’s vision, bringing audiences to our newly restored home and taking Soane’s vision out into the world.”