York Archaeology closes exhibitions department as part of restructure

York Archaeology, the charity that runs a number of attractions in the city including the Jorvik Viking Centre, DIG and Barley Hall, has announced a restructure that includes the closure of its exhibitions department and several new appointments to the senior management team.

Chief executive David Jennings is stepping down after 12 years heading the organisation and Gareth Henry has been promoted from head of operations for visitor attractions to director of public engagement. 

In a statement, York Archaeology said it was moving forward with a “slimmed-down structure”. This includes closing its core exhibition team, which focused on touring displays, and moving responsibility for seasonal installations and exhibitions across its attractions to the operations team. 

A spokesperson for the charity told Museums Journal that there had been "a small number of redundancies across the charity, including [within] commercial archaeology".

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The exhibitions team recently worked with children’s author Cressida Cowell and publisher Hachette to organise a new interactive exhibition inspired by the author's spin-off book, How to Train Your Dragon School, at DIG, the hands-on archaeology centre on York’s St Saviourgate. Other recent projects include the Soundmarks exhibition at DIG, and the Beasts of Barley Hall digital exhibition.

In a statement about its new leadership team, York Archaeology’s chair of trustees Ellen Roberts said: “For many charities in the heritage sector, last year was financially challenging, and we were no exception. 

“This has provided the catalyst to really look at what we do best – operating world-class visitor attractions, and as a well-respected archaeological investigation unit – and refocus our activities on these core strengths and our charitable objectives.”

Elsewhere, the charity said it was working with a local agent to find alternate uses for three of its commercial premises: the Monk Bar, which used to house the Richard III Experience but closed in 2020 during the Covid pandemic; Micklegate Bar, which housed the City Walls Experience until last October; and Barley Hall Coffee Shop.

In the statement, it said the decision would create “extra agility for the charity to be able to respond to ever changing market conditions”.

York Archaeology continues to offers commercial archaeological services and is recruiting for archaeologists to support new contracts and projects in Yorkshire, the East Midlands, Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

It also runs a number of engagement and wellbeing projects such as Archaeology on Prescription and Heritage in Mind.