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Abigail Morris stands down as Jewish Museum director as it announces 'new direction'
Museum to stop receiving annual £220,000 Arts Council grant as part an 'exceptional course of action'
February 11, 2020 17:27
Museum to stop receiving annual £220,000 Arts Council grant as part an 'exceptional course of action'
February 11, 2020 17:27Jewish Museum chief executive and director Abigail Morris is stepping down after eight years, as the institution announced it would "review its business model and plan for a new direction".
It comes as the museum announced its withdrawal from Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), which it joined in 2017.
The NPO has been giving the museum £220,000 a year in grant money, which is due to continue until 2022.
The NPO said it would give an extra £100,000 for the museum to review its future business options, which the Arts Council expects to be completed within two months.
The Arts Council told the JC the museum "was not going to be able to deliver the business plan" for its portfolio funding "as the museum’s business model has historically relied heavily on philanthropic giving, and in the current environment this has been harder to maintain".
In a statement, the museum said “extensive support” would come from National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Arts Council - under whose auspices it will remain - “while the museum takes the time to review its model and organisational structure over the next two months”.
It claimed withdrawing from the NPO would give it "the opportunity to explore a new, sustainable business model without the funding requirements set out by the portfolio".
Ms Morris joined the museum in 2012.
The museum said it would work with the Arts Council to recruit an interim chief executive.
Abi Shapiro, the museum’s chief operating officer and Sam Clifford, director of development, will step in as interim co-directors until Ms Morris' successor is appointed.
Joyce Wilson, London area director for Arts Council England, said: “We have agreed to the request from the Jewish Museum London to leave the National Portfolio.
"We will continue to fund the organisation at the same level of investment while it takes time to review its business model.
"We are also awarding additional funding to support planning for the museum’s future and the care and preservation of its nationally outstanding collection.
“We have agreed this exceptional course of action because of the organisation’s strategic significance nationally and its important work with the museum sector, local people and the wider Jewish community.”
Ms Morris said: “It has been a dream to head up the Jewish Museum and to work with so many talented and supportive people.
"I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the last eight years. We have transformed the Museum and have become recognised for our outstanding, award-winning exhibitions and education programmes.
“I wish the museum continued success as it plans the next stage of its journey.”
The museum's chairman, Lord Young, said: “Under Abigail’s stewardship, our museum has had many big successes.
"Her creative energy and infectious determination ensured we were able to punch well above our weight and gain a world-wide reputation for our thought-provoking exhibitions and educational programme.
“We are grateful to Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their ongoing support.
"We are committed to working closely with the Arts Council and taking the necessary steps to ensure we fulfil the Jewish Museum London’s mission to combat antisemitism through exhibitions, events and education.”
