Firstsite gallery in Colchester has announced Sally Shaw as its new director. Shaw, who is currently head of programme at Modern Art Oxford, will take up her new role at the gallery in April.
A former deputy head of culture for Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Shaw replaces interim director Anthony Roberts. He was brought in last April for 12 months following the departure of Matthew Rowe.
Rowe’s resignation came after the withdrawal in February 2015 of the venue’s Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status, due to concerns over its financial viability.
While still not part of the portfolio, in November ACE agreed to fund the organisation for two years (2016-18), at a cost of £814,512 for each year. The gallery is currently in the process of reducing its wage bill, a move that has attracted protests including a petition from staff calling on management to reconsider its staff restructuring plans.
Commenting on her appointment, Shaw said: “I am delighted and honoured to be taking up this role. Colchester has a unique place in the history of the United Kingdom. Firstsite is therefore a great place to show and make art which resonates within these surroundings and reflects the nature and interests of the people who live and work here.”
Shaw is a board member of Eastside Projects in Birmingham and was previously chair of the London Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN). While working for the Mayor of London she led the Fourth Plinth programme in Trafalgar Square and worked on contemporary art commissions for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She also led a programme to develop artist studio provision across the capital.
Noorzaman Rashid, chair of the Firstsite board, said that the gallery was “lucky to have attracted one of the brightest stars of the art world to Colchester”.
He added: “The challenges at Firstsite are still great but we are going from strength to strength. Visitor numbers are already 30% greater than last year and levels of community engagement continue to grow.”
