National Portrait Gallery appoints new Director

VICTORIA SIDDALL has been appointed Director of London's National Portrait Gallery (NPG), taking up the post in autumn this year. She succeeds Dr NICHOLAS CULLINAN OBE, who left to become Director of the British Museum in June.

The appointment, made by the National Portrait Gallery’s Board of Trustees, was approved by the Prime Minister.

Siddall has over 20 years’ experience in leadership positions in the art world, both in the public and private sectors. Most recently, she co-founded Gallery Climate Coalition and Murmur, two charities that drive environmental responsibility in the art and music sectors, and for the past two years she has also worked with Tate in a strategic advisory capacity.

Previously Siddall was Global Director of Frieze, founding Frieze Masters and then leading four international art fairs across London, New York and Los Angeles. After securing the launch of Frieze Seoul, she became a non-executive Director of Frieze in March 2022. 

She is a trustee of Gallery Climate Coalition and the Ampersand Foundation and was until recently a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery and Chair of the Board of Studio Voltaire. 

DAVID ROSS, NPG's Chair said: "I am delighted to welcome Victoria Siddall… Her strengths as a cultural leader are considerable, as is her knowledge of the art world, understanding of audiences and international profile. I know that she has the vision and determination to build on our recent successes and lead the next stage of the Gallery’s development."

Culture Secretary LISA NANDY added: "I am delighted that the National Portrait Gallery is making history by appointing its first female Director. Her leadership will lead the Gallery from strength to strength, building on their successful reopening last year and I am excited to see what she and the National Portrait Gallery team will have in store for us in the coming years."

Siddall herself commented: "I’m truly honoured to have the opportunity to lead the National Portrait Gallery, a museum that holds the world’s greatest collection of portraits and is unique in being about people and for people…

"This is perhaps the most exciting time in the NPG’s history, following the recent reopening and Inspiring People project that the team delivered so flawlessly under Nicholas Cullinan’s leadership. The perfect stage has been built and I am thrilled to work with my new colleagues, the museum's trustees and supporters and of course the artists, as we look to the future and embark on a new chapter."