Fresh chaos as short-order chief quits the Barbican Centre
NewsYou may recall the precipitate and untransparent departure of Nicholas Kenyon as head of London’s Barbican Centre in June 2021.
Kenyon was succeeded hastily as artistic director by Will Gompertz, the BBC’s arts editor whose music experience was minimal, and as CEO by Claire Spencer, who had been running the Arts Centre in Melbourne, Australia.
Now, after just two years, Gompertz has quit – to become director of the Sir John Soane’s Museum in central London.
Gompertz, 57, was never an easy fit at the Barbican. The reasons for his departure are, as usual down there, opaque.
He’s been announced at the Sir John Soane’s museum but nothing as yet on the Barbican Centre website;
“Introducing Will Gompertz as our new Director
Exciting news for the future of Sir John Soane’s Museum!
Will, who joins us from the Barbican and will be familiar to many for his eleven years as Arts Editor at the BBC, will take up the post in January, following in the footsteps of Dr. Bruce Boucher, who will retire at the end of 2023 after nearly eight years leading the Museum through a period of great change and success.