Merriman to head English Heritage
Nick Merriman, director of the award-winning Horniman Museum in South London, is to be the next CEO of English Heritage.
He will succeed Kate Mavor in January. Merriman will oversee the National Heritage Collection of over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites across England (from Stonehenge to the York Cold War Bunker), their collections, and the London blue plaques scheme
“The collection of sites in English Heritage’s care is unique and I am extremely excited to be joining the charity” said Merriman, pictured here in front of Dover Castle, an English Heritage site. “From the stunning footbridge at Tintagel Castle to its work in broadening the London blue plaques scheme, I’ve been impressed by what English Heritage has achieved since it became a charity eight years ago.
“Like many others, my childhood was spent clambering around English Heritage castles and I firmly believe that heritage is as much about people as it is about places, whether those who lived and worked there in the past or who, like me, enjoy them today. I’m looking forward to introducing more people to these inspiring landmarks” said Merriman, 63.
Merriman became director and then chief executive of the Horniman in 2018 and four years later the museum won the Art Fund Museum of the Year award. Prior to that he was director of the Manchester Museum. Currently he is chairingResearch England’s review of funding for museums and galleries in higher education, and is married to Maria Balshaw, director of Tate.
“Since English Heritage became a charity in 2015 we have attracted more visitors and members than ever before, opened up more of our sites in bold and imaginative ways, and invested more money in their care and conservation” said English Heritage’s chair, Gerard Lemos. “We want to build on those successes and one of English Heritage’s main ambitions is to place the landmarks in our care at the heart of their local communities and to engage far more people in our sites’ past and above all in their future.”
Vacancy for Vital Exposure artistic director, see http://www.vitalxposure.co.uk/new-artistic-lead/