Devyani Saltzman, the Barbican's director of arts and participation, is departing the institution just months after unveiling a five-year creative vision. The shock exit comes weeks after the arrival of new chief executive Abigail Pogson and ahead of a major refurbishment project.
Saltzman, who joined in February 2024, was recently named one of the 40 most influential women in UK arts and described as the driving force behind the organisation. Her role involved curating the artistic programme and community engagement, and she had become the public face of the centre.
The Barbican declined to confirm the departure, saying it would not comment on individual staffing matters. No replacement is planned, leaving a leadership vacuum. Saltzman was vocal about the need for diverse leadership in cultural institutions and helped repair trust following a controversy over a cancelled talk by Pankaj Mishra on the Holocaust and Gaza.
Pogson, who joined from the Glasshouse in Gateshead, is overseeing the first major renewal of the venue, including a 12-month closure from June 2028. The project's first phase costs £231m, with an overall bill estimated at £451m.
Opened in 1982, the Barbican attracts more than 1.5 million visitors annually and is one of the UK's most popular cultural attractions. The leadership changes follow several recent departures, including managing director Nicholas Kenyon in 2021 and his successor Will Gompertz after two years.
