National Museum Wales Appoints David Anderson as New Director General

Written by Mike Houlihan Tuesday, 13 July 2010 20:55

CARDIFF.- The National Museum Wales announced the appointment of David Anderson, Director of Learning and Interpretation at the Victoria and Albert Museum, as Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ new Director General. David Anderson was chosen from a selection of high calibre international candidates because of his deep understanding of the role of national museums and museum culture, his particular expertise of the role of education in museums, and the passion he demonstrated to take on the role. His 20 years experience at one of the world’s leading museums makes him well placed to lead Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales and he will begin his new role in October 2010.

David Anderson is an established international authority on learning initiatives in museums and an adviser to Government on many projects, including national museum and gallery education strategy. In 1999, he was awarded an OBE for services to museums and education. He has in the recent past conducted seminars for the Trustees and staff of Amgueddfa Cymru, on the educational role of the Museum.

In his first role at the V&A as Head of Education, he created the first team in a UK national museum dedicated to community education. As Director of Learning and Interpretation, he led the development of the Museum’s new £4 million Sackler Centre for Arts Education, which opened in 2008 and formed the National Museums Online Learning Project – the only public project that national museums have undertaken together.

Born in Belfast and brought up in Warwickshire, David Anderson was initially inspired to study archaeology by his radical rugby-playing history teacher, which, in turn, led to him specialising in Irish history at Edinburgh University . His love of Celtic literature, music and folklore makes him keen to engage with and promote Welsh culture at home and across the world.

Mr Anderson is joining Amgueddfa Cymru at an exciting period for the Welsh institution with developments to create a National History Museum at St Fagans continuing and the progressing of the conversion of the first floor of National Museum Cardiff to become the National Museum of Art for Wales, which is due to be completed in summer 2011. The ground floor of National Museum Cardiff is also scheduled for designation as Wales ’s Natural History Museum.

Sir Mark Jones, Director of the V&A paid tribute to David Anderson’s contribution to the Museum: “David Anderson has made an enormous contribution to the V&A as a whole during his 20 years here. As Director of our Learning and Interpretation Division, his knowledge and expertise has shaped our services for Museum audiences and he has been central to our cultural policy and diversity work. David also played a key role in developing a strong regional partnership programme, and as co-Chair of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group of 15 major institutions, he contributed to the creation of a new organisation dedicated to the establishment of South Kensington as London's first and greatest cultural quarter. His leadership and commitment in developing the Sackler Centre for arts education will be a visible legacy of his time at the V&A."

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