Barbican arts director Devyani Saltzman to leave amid £191m renovation

Devyani Saltzman, who has been serving as the director of arts and participation at the Barbican Centre in London, is set to leave her position. According to The Stage, her departure is due to redundancy, although The Guardian reports that the timeline for her exit remains uncertain and there are no intentions to find a replacement. The Barbican has not officially acknowledged her departure, with a spokesperson refraining from discussing specific personnel issues. This development comes shortly after Saltzman presented a five-year creative strategy for the venue, coinciding with the City of London Corporation's endorsement of a £191 million renovation project starting in 2027, during which the venue will close for a year beginning in June 2028. Saltzman's exit adds to the institution's recent challenges, including the 2021 resignation of managing director Nicholas Kenyon amid allegations of institutional racism and the controversial withdrawal of exhibitions in 2023 and 2024. She joined the Barbican in February 2024, having previously held significant roles at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Banff Centre, and Luminato in Toronto, and has contributed writings to various notable publications.