Orna-Ornstein to be ACE director of museums
ACE restructure in place from 1 July
Arts Council England (ACE) has appointed John Orna-Ornstein to the position of director of museums.
Orna-Ornstein will split his time between museum development and developing the arts and culture in the south west of England.
He said: “I am delighted to become the new director for museums, based in Bristol at the arts council.
"This gives me the opportunity to support the development of museums small and large throughout England, and arts in the south west.
"Our cultural sector faces challenging times and it is increasingly important that the sector works effectively and collaboratively to make best use of the resources available.
"Our most precious resource is the people who make arts and museums what they are and they too need to be supported and encouraged to do the great work that is so valued by the public.”
Orna-Ornstein was formerly head of national programmes at the British Museum and has worked with museums and galleries in every part of the UK.
His 15 years at the British Museum have included roles ranging from curatorial to education to management and he has also worked in the international development industry.
He is a board member of the Museums Association, International Council of Museums UK, the Migration Museum and the London Museums Group.
He is also a fellow of the Clore Cultural Leadership Programme 2012/13.
ACE is restructuring to meet a government requirement to cut its administrative costs by 50% by 2015.
As part of the restructure ACE will make 117.5 posts redundant, with four executive directors replacing the eight existing executive roles.
Orna-Ornstein will take up the new post on 1 July, when the restructure comes into effect.
Update
18.06.2013
We said Orna-Ornstein would be the area director for the south west. In fact he is director of museums, and will support area director Phil Gibby in the south west.
Orna-Ornstein will split his time between museum development and developing the arts and culture in the south west of England.
He said: “I am delighted to become the new director for museums, based in Bristol at the arts council.
"This gives me the opportunity to support the development of museums small and large throughout England, and arts in the south west.
"Our cultural sector faces challenging times and it is increasingly important that the sector works effectively and collaboratively to make best use of the resources available.
"Our most precious resource is the people who make arts and museums what they are and they too need to be supported and encouraged to do the great work that is so valued by the public.”
Orna-Ornstein was formerly head of national programmes at the British Museum and has worked with museums and galleries in every part of the UK.
His 15 years at the British Museum have included roles ranging from curatorial to education to management and he has also worked in the international development industry.
He is a board member of the Museums Association, International Council of Museums UK, the Migration Museum and the London Museums Group.
He is also a fellow of the Clore Cultural Leadership Programme 2012/13.
ACE is restructuring to meet a government requirement to cut its administrative costs by 50% by 2015.
As part of the restructure ACE will make 117.5 posts redundant, with four executive directors replacing the eight existing executive roles.
Orna-Ornstein will take up the new post on 1 July, when the restructure comes into effect.
Update
18.06.2013
We said Orna-Ornstein would be the area director for the south west. In fact he is director of museums, and will support area director Phil Gibby in the south west.