Barbican faces open letter over arts director's departure

A group of over 170 notable cultural figures has signed an open letter expressing their worries and calling for clarity surrounding the recent departure of Devyani Saltzman, the Barbican's director for arts and participation. Among the signatories are well-known artists like Jasleen Kaur, John Akomfrah, and Isaac Julien, alongside esteemed writers such as Salman Rushdie, Pankaj Mishra, and Kiran Desai. The letter points out that Saltzman’s exit, particularly as a South Asian woman after a short time in her role, comes just as a new Chief Executive steps in, prompting important questions about the Barbican's commitment to diverse leadership. It requests that the Barbican Board and the City of London Corporation clarify her departure and maintain their anti-racist efforts, including sharing updated diversity statistics and conducting an independent review of senior hiring practices.