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 promoting 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 across the UK.
During his 15 years at the British Museum, his roles ranged from curatorial and education to management. He has also worked in the international development industry.
Orna-Ornstein 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 the equivalent of 117.5 posts redundant, with four executive directors replacing the eight existing executive roles. Area directors, including Orna-Ornstein, will report to the executive directors.
Orna-Ornstein takes up the new post on 9 September.
Update
03.07.2013
We said Orna-Ornstein took up the post on 1 July. This is incorrect. He joins on 9 September.
Orna-Ornstein will split his time between museum development and promoting 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 across the UK.
During his 15 years at the British Museum, his roles ranged from curatorial and education to management. He has also worked in the international development industry.
Orna-Ornstein 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 the equivalent of 117.5 posts redundant, with four executive directors replacing the eight existing executive roles. Area directors, including Orna-Ornstein, will report to the executive directors.
Orna-Ornstein takes up the new post on 9 September.
Update
03.07.2013
We said Orna-Ornstein took up the post on 1 July. This is incorrect. He joins on 9 September.
