Jenny Waldman to be next director of Art Fund

Art Fund Chair Lord Smith of Finsbury announced today that Jenny Waldman, formerly Director of 14-18 NOW, will succeed Stephen Deuchar as Director of Art Fund, who steps down on 3 April after 10 years in post.

Jenny Waldman CBE was Director of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the First World War Centenary. Working in partnership with arts and heritage organisations across the UK, 14-18 NOW commissioned over 100 new works from leading UK and international contemporary artists including Jeremy Deller’s Somme tribute We’re here because we’re here, Peter Jackson’s film They Shall Not Grow Old and new works by John Akomfrah, William Kentridge, Susan Philipsz, Yinka Shonibare CBE, and Rachel Whiteread.

She was Creative Producer of the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and from 1999-2011 she was Public Programmes Consultant to Somerset House Trust, where she created the iconic ice rink and the highly successful outdoor concert and film seasons, as well commissioning site-specific art installations. She has also commissioned large-scale performing arts events for Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

Jenny Waldman is Chair of Trustees of Artangel, and is a member of the Barbican Centre Board. She was awarded a CBE in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to the arts.

She will take up the post officially on 6 April and will begin full time from 11 May.

Lord Smith said, ‘I’m absolutely delighted that Jenny will lead Art Fund into its next phase of development. She joins a thriving organisation with an expanding membership and ever-increasing influence in the UK arts and museums sector. Her experience of working with artists and museums, and her outstanding track record at a national level, will be invaluable as we take on the challenges of the future.’

Jenny Waldman said, ‘It’s a great honour and very exciting to join Art Fund at this point in its 117-year history. Art Fund plays a crucial role in supporting museums and galleries across the UK and the opportunity to build on the impressive work that Stephen Deuchar and his team have done over the past decade is inspiring.’

Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. It provides millions of pounds every year to help museums to acquire and share works of art across the UK, further the professional development of their curators, and inspire more people to visit and enjoy their public programmes. Art Fund is independently funded, supported by the 159,000 members who buy the National Art Pass, who enjoy free entry to over 240 museums, galleries and historic places, 50% off major exhibitions, and receive Art Quarterly magazine. Art Fund also supports museums through its annual prize, Art Fund Museum of the Year, which was won by St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff, in 2019, and through a range of digital platforms.