This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/mar/29/ft-editor-appointed-new-chair-of-tate-galleries

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
FT editor appointed new chair of Tate galleries FT editor appointed new chair of Tate galleries
(35 minutes later)
The Tate has appointed Lionel Barber, the editor of the Financial Times, as its new chairman, one of the most prestigious positions in the arts.The Tate has appointed Lionel Barber, the editor of the Financial Times, as its new chairman, one of the most prestigious positions in the arts.
It is an unpaid role which, despite raised eyebrows in media circles over his demanding day job, is nominally supposed to take up only two days a month. It is an unpaid role which, despite raised eyebrows in media circles over his demanding day job, is nominally supposed to take up one day a week.
He takes over at a time of major change at the group of galleries, which together are one of the world’s most successful arts institutions, with relatively new or incoming directors at all four branches, and the ending of its increasingly controversial 26-year sponsorship by BP oil.He takes over at a time of major change at the group of galleries, which together are one of the world’s most successful arts institutions, with relatively new or incoming directors at all four branches, and the ending of its increasingly controversial 26-year sponsorship by BP oil.
“I am honoured to accept the position of chair of Tate, one of the world’s leading cultural institutions,” Barber said. “I look forward to working with Tate’s trustees, Maria Balshaw [the Tate’s director], and her fellow directors to bring art in all its aspects to an ever bigger and diverse audience.”“I am honoured to accept the position of chair of Tate, one of the world’s leading cultural institutions,” Barber said. “I look forward to working with Tate’s trustees, Maria Balshaw [the Tate’s director], and her fellow directors to bring art in all its aspects to an ever bigger and diverse audience.”
Barber had been acting chair since Lord Browne left last summer, after 10 years in the post, to take over as chair of the Courtauld Institute.Barber had been acting chair since Lord Browne left last summer, after 10 years in the post, to take over as chair of the Courtauld Institute.
His own paper, the Financial Times, contradicted the gleeful media gossip [paywall] that Barber had been leading the hunt for a new chair before concluding that he himself was the most suitable candidate.His own paper, the Financial Times, contradicted the gleeful media gossip [paywall] that Barber had been leading the hunt for a new chair before concluding that he himself was the most suitable candidate.
He did recruit Roland Rudd, the chairman of the financial PR firm Finsbury and a former FT journalist, to fill the vacancy among the trustees left by Lord Browne. Rudd was tipped to become Tate chairman, but once Barber emerged as the frontrunner for the top post, that selection process was taken over by another trustee, Tim Davie.He did recruit Roland Rudd, the chairman of the financial PR firm Finsbury and a former FT journalist, to fill the vacancy among the trustees left by Lord Browne. Rudd was tipped to become Tate chairman, but once Barber emerged as the frontrunner for the top post, that selection process was taken over by another trustee, Tim Davie.
The board of trustees chooses the chair from among their number, but the announcement by the Tate was delayed because the gallery had to wait for the government to confirm that Barber’s term as a trustee, due to run out later this year after seven years, had been extended until 2021.The board of trustees chooses the chair from among their number, but the announcement by the Tate was delayed because the gallery had to wait for the government to confirm that Barber’s term as a trustee, due to run out later this year after seven years, had been extended until 2021.
The trustees will be advising on filling the corporate sponsorship gap left by the ending of BP funding three months ago.The trustees will be advising on filling the corporate sponsorship gap left by the ending of BP funding three months ago.
The sponsorship by the oil giant, which also backs exhibitions at the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, has become bitterly controversial in recent years. It has sparked pickets of major exhibitions and demonstrations, including climate change messages written in charcoal on the floor of Tate Modern’s giant Turbine Hall, as well as a demonstration on the anniversary of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster by a naked oil-drenched activist at Tate Britain.The sponsorship by the oil giant, which also backs exhibitions at the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, has become bitterly controversial in recent years. It has sparked pickets of major exhibitions and demonstrations, including climate change messages written in charcoal on the floor of Tate Modern’s giant Turbine Hall, as well as a demonstration on the anniversary of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster by a naked oil-drenched activist at Tate Britain.
In March 2016, the oil firm announced the ending of Tate sponsorship from the end of 2017, citing the “challenging business environment”, and insisting that the demonstrations had nothing to do with the decision.In March 2016, the oil firm announced the ending of Tate sponsorship from the end of 2017, citing the “challenging business environment”, and insisting that the demonstrations had nothing to do with the decision.
The London Evening Standard, edited by the former chancellor George Osborne, ran a particularly acid piece claiming that Barber’s imminent appointment had caused shock at both the FT and the Tate, over a perceived conflict of interest between editorial independence and corporate fundraising.The London Evening Standard, edited by the former chancellor George Osborne, ran a particularly acid piece claiming that Barber’s imminent appointment had caused shock at both the FT and the Tate, over a perceived conflict of interest between editorial independence and corporate fundraising.
Fraser Nelson, the editor of the Spectator, tweeted: “I’d love to have been there when this diary item was pitched in editorial conference.”Fraser Nelson, the editor of the Spectator, tweeted: “I’d love to have been there when this diary item was pitched in editorial conference.”
Lionel BarberLionel Barber
Tate BritainTate Britain
Tate ModernTate Modern
Tate LiverpoolTate Liverpool
Tate St IvesTate St Ives
Financial TimesFinancial Times
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content