Maria Balshaw the Director of the award-winning Whitworth Gallery as well as University of Manchester and Manchester City Galleries which includes Manchester Art Gallery and Gallery of Costume is to be appointed Director of Tate. She will succeed Sir Nicholas Serota, for one of the most powerful jobs in the international museum world.
Balshaw has been the driving force behind Manchester’s cultural renaissance
Balshaw spearheaded the £15m redevelopment of the Whitworth gallery in Manchester. In 2015 the Gallery was voted museum of the year receiving a £100,000 prize. She is highly regarded as a driving force in the city’s cultural renaissance. The search for a replacement for Serota has been ongoing since it was announced last autumn. Serota is a tough act to follow, standing down after nearly 30 years, he was responsible for realising Tate Modern as well as Tate St Ives and Tate Liverpool. He will now take up the post of Chairman of Arts Council England.
Balshaw has been the favourite candidate although other names like Tim Marlow and Iwona Blazwick have been rumoured since it was known that Serota was leaving. The decision was put forward by the Tate trustees. however, she needs final approval from Prime Minister, Theresa May. Confirmation is not expected until next week.
This year’s Artlyst Alt Power 100 places Maria Balshaw as 2 on the list l. Not to gloat, but Art Review didn’t even mention her on their list of movers and shakers!