Salman Rushdie Leads 170 Cultural Figures in Barbican Leadership Protest
Salman Rushdie, John Akomfrah, and Pankaj Mishra are among more than 170 prominent cultural figures who have signed an open letter to the Barbican Centre, expressing profound concern over the departure of its arts director, Devyani Saltzman. The letter, signed by a coalition of global majority creative leaders and allies, highlights serious questions about the institution's dedication to sustaining diverse leadership at the highest levels.
Saltzman's Short Tenure and Leadership Vision
Devyani Saltzman, who became director of arts and participation at the Barbican in February 2024, is leaving the institution just a few weeks after the arrival of a new CEO. Described as the "driving force behind the organisation" and recently named one of the 40 most influential women in UK arts, Saltzman had unveiled a five-year creative vision for the Barbican months before her departure. Her exit, occurring after a comparatively brief tenure, has sparked alarm among signatories who view it as a setback for diversity in cultural leadership.
The letter states that Saltzman's appointment was made with great fanfare, granting her a mandate to shape the Barbican's artistic vision and deepen community relationships. Her sudden departure raises serious questions about the institution's commitment to sustaining global majority leadership at the highest levels, according to the signatories. Saltzman, who will leave in May with no plans for replacement, had become the Barbican's public face over the last 18 months, advocating for leadership that reflects London's diverse population.
Signatories and Their Demands
The open letter includes signatures from Grammy-nominated sitarist Anoushka Shankar, musician Nitin Sawhney, American playwright David Adjmi, Indian novelist Kiran Desai, Pakistani-British novelist Kamila Shamsie, Armenian-Canadian film-maker Atom Egoyan, British curator Mark Sealy, and former British Council arts director Skinder Hundal. Many of these figures have longstanding connections to the Barbican, working with and around the institution for decades.
Signatories argue that this is not an ordinary HR issue but a matter with sector-wide and community-wide implications. They emphasize that the Barbican is a major public cultural institution, funded and held in trust for the people of London and the UK. The decision affects one of the very few senior artistic leaders of South Asian and racially diverse heritage in the Barbican's history, prompting calls for transparency and accountability.
Calls for Clarification and Data Publication
The letter calls on the Barbican board and the City of London Corporation to publicly clarify several key points:
- Whether the arts director role has been formally deleted.
- The processes that led to the decision regarding Saltzman's departure.
- How artistic leadership at the Barbican will now be configured moving forward.
Additionally, signatories demand the publication of data on the diversity of the Barbican's senior leadership and governance, seeking to ensure greater transparency and inclusivity in the institution's operations.
Barbican's Response and Historical Context
In response, Barbican chair William Russell reiterated that he cannot comment on confidential staff matters, directing attention to a press statement celebrating Saltzman's contributions. This comes amid a period of significant leadership changes at the Barbican over the past five years. In 2021, managing director Nicholas Kenyon resigned after 14 years following staff allegations of institutional racism at the Barbican. He was succeeded by former BBC arts correspondent Will Gompertz, who left after two years in the role.
Saltzman's tenure began during controversy, as the Barbican faced backlash for backing out of hosting a talk by Pankaj Mishra about the Holocaust and allegations of genocide in Gaza. Her departure adds to ongoing scrutiny of the institution's leadership practices and commitment to diversity, with cultural figures urging a reevaluation of its priorities to better serve London's multicultural community.
