National Media Museum’s creative director quits outpost project
Resignation blow to planned London gallery
National Media Museum's plans to open a new space at the Science Museum in London have suffered a blow with the resignation of the project’s creative director, Charlotte Cotton.
The new venture, called Media Space, is scheduled to open early 2013 on the second floor of the Science Museum.
Cotton, who was appointed in 2009, was responsible for the “curatorial vision” of the space, which was backed by the Bradford-based museum.
Museums Journal understands that she will not be replaced, leaving a question mark over the future direction of the project.
Media Space will consist of “a breathtaking gallery for the exhibition of visual media surrounded by cultural spaces for exploring, discussing, testing and exhibiting creative technologies”, said a press statement.
Ian Blatchford, director of the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI), the parent museum of the National Media Museum and the Science Museum, said: “The National Media Museum’s world-class exhibition and collections will be a fantastic new offer for our visitors [at Media Space].”
The project will cost £4m but concerns have been raised about the difficulty in raising funds for the London venture, according to photography trade journal Source.
A spokesman for the National Media Museum responded: “NMSI has funds in place to commit to opening Media Space in spring 2013… we are continuing to fundraise for additional elements of the build and the ongoing programme.”
Meanwhile, the National Media Museum is recruiting to replace Colin Philpott, who leaves his role as director next month.
Philpott’s departure is part of a reorganisation of the senior team. The overhaul means there will no longer be a director-level role at the institution.
The new head of the National Media Museum will subsequently report to the deputy director of the Science Museum.
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National Media Museum scraps director role
The new venture, called Media Space, is scheduled to open early 2013 on the second floor of the Science Museum.
Cotton, who was appointed in 2009, was responsible for the “curatorial vision” of the space, which was backed by the Bradford-based museum.
Museums Journal understands that she will not be replaced, leaving a question mark over the future direction of the project.
Media Space will consist of “a breathtaking gallery for the exhibition of visual media surrounded by cultural spaces for exploring, discussing, testing and exhibiting creative technologies”, said a press statement.
Ian Blatchford, director of the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI), the parent museum of the National Media Museum and the Science Museum, said: “The National Media Museum’s world-class exhibition and collections will be a fantastic new offer for our visitors [at Media Space].”
The project will cost £4m but concerns have been raised about the difficulty in raising funds for the London venture, according to photography trade journal Source.
A spokesman for the National Media Museum responded: “NMSI has funds in place to commit to opening Media Space in spring 2013… we are continuing to fundraise for additional elements of the build and the ongoing programme.”
Meanwhile, the National Media Museum is recruiting to replace Colin Philpott, who leaves his role as director next month.
Philpott’s departure is part of a reorganisation of the senior team. The overhaul means there will no longer be a director-level role at the institution.
The new head of the National Media Museum will subsequently report to the deputy director of the Science Museum.
Link
National Media Museum scraps director role