New faces at the ICA
Out with the old and in with the new and unfamiliar. That's been the abiding spirit of the ICA and continues today, at least when it come to staff.
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This morning Gregor Muir was announced as the beleaguered institution's new director. He takes over at a time when the Mall-based arts centred is a shadow of its former self, having withered while others flourished in a decade of heightened interest in contemporary art.
Gregor's warm charm, wry humour and self-confidence will be a tonic in itself. As will his keen curatorial eye and bulging address book of A-list artworld figures. He joins a new top team, headed-up by Alison Myners as chair.
The job has been called a poisoned chalice by some, but Gregor is a canny fellow. He'll know that should he succeed in turning the ICA around (and I very much hope he does) he will be hailed as a key figure in a new generation of arts leaders. And if he fails, he can say the place was beyond repair and go back to a cushy job in a private gallery.
We'll have to wait and see what the future holds, but I do think it is a smart move to appoint an experienced curator into this role, especially one who has worked in both the public and private sectors. A good start.
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Comment number 1.
At 11th Jan 2011, John_from_Hendon wrote:Shouldn't the ICA be turned into a pavement café with a few pictures on the walls? There are few facilities for tourists on the Mall and the ICA is well placed.
As a gallery it is dark, obscure and in the wrong place!
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