Devyani Saltzman, a Canadian cultural leader, is set to depart her position as Director for Arts at London’s Barbican Centre in May 2026, just under two years after her appointment. The departure comes as the Barbican prepares for a significant period of renovation and follows a period of internal restructuring, raising questions about the future of arts programming at the renowned multidisciplinary institution. Saltzman’s exit marks the latest in a series of leadership changes at the Barbican, a cultural hub home to the London Symphony Orchestra and a diverse range of artistic disciplines.
Saltzman, who previously held high-profile cultural programming roles at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Luminato Festival in Toronto, was brought in to help reimagine the Barbican’s arts programming following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and address longstanding issues of institutional racism and discrimination. Her work was credited with building a five-year artistic vision for the centre, focusing on collaboration and ambitious programming.
The Barbican Centre announced on Tuesday that the Director for Arts position would not be maintained following Saltzman’s departure and the planned closure for building upgrades. While the centre did not provide a specific reason for her exit, the decision coincides with a £191 million investment approved by the City of London Corporation towards a five-year renovation plan, scheduled to begin in June 2028, with a year-long closure anticipated from that date, as reported by ArtReview.
Saltzman described her tenure as a “complete reset” of the Barbican Centre’s artistic vision, emphasizing the creation of novel internal structures to foster collaboration and engagement with artists and audiences worldwide. “This chapter has been defined by the joy of collaboration, ambition, and bold programming,” she said in a statement. The Barbican’s press release highlighted her efforts to promote cross-disciplinary, community-focused, and discourse-driving programming.
The Barbican Centre has experienced significant leadership turnover in recent years. Claire Spencer, the CEO who hired Saltzman, departed after just two years in the role, replaced on an interim basis by David Farnsworth before Abigail Pogson, formerly of the Glasshouse International Centre for Music, assumed the position of CEO in January, according to The Globe and Mail. This followed a 2021 revelation that staff had raised over 100 instances of racism and discrimination within the institution.
Saltzman’s departure adds to a turbulent period for the London institution. In 2021, former managing director Nicholas Kenyon left his post amid accusations of institutional racism. More recently, in 2023 and 2024, the Resolve Collective withdrew an exhibition and a group of collectors and artists removed works in protest over the Barbican’s handling of politically sensitive issues, including Palestine and a lecture by Indian thinker Pankaj Mishra, as detailed by ArtReview.
Born in 1979, Saltzman is the daughter of filmmakers Deepa Mehta and Paul Saltzman. She is an Oxford University graduate and has contributed to publications including The Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Atlantic, and Tehelka, according to Wikipedia. She is also slated to publish a book, Exiting: Towards a Future of Work that Serves Us All, with Random House Canada in 2027.
As the Barbican Centre prepares for its extensive renovations, the institution faces the challenge of maintaining its position as a leading cultural venue while navigating ongoing internal changes and addressing past concerns. The decision to eliminate the Director for Arts position signals a potential shift in the Barbican’s organizational structure and programming priorities. The next phase will be closely watched by the arts community and stakeholders as the Barbican embarks on this new chapter.
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