New Director for Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

Keith has been Chief Executive of Sunderland Culture since January 2017, an organisation formed by the University of Sunderland, Sunderland City Council and the Sunderland Music Arts and Culture Trust to operate cultural venues and deliver major projects, a role he combined with being Director of the National Glass Centre. Whilst in Sunderland he has worked on major exhibitions and events including the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition, Danny Boyle’s Pages of the Sea and Sunderland’s bid to be UK City of Culture.   

He was previously Chief Executive of Woodhorn Charitable Trust (2008-2016) where he oversaw the first showing of the Poppies: Weeping Window exhibition outside of London and Chief Executive of Bede’s World in South Tyneside (2002-2008) where he spearheaded Wearmouth-Jarrow’s successful campaign to secure the UK’s World Heritage Site nomination. He also worked at a national level for nature conservation charity The Wildlife Trusts having started his working life with Northumberland Wildlife Trust based at what is now the Great North Museum. 

TWAM is one of the country’s largest museum and archive services and has a strong reputation for its work with children and young people and for its outreach work focused on adult health and wellbeing. It not only delivers a locally focused service but has a respected national and international reputation and presence. Although all its museums and galleries are currently closed TWAM has continued to deliver exhibition and collections content and activities through its website and social media. 

Building on the work of the retiring Director Iain Watson and in partnership with TWAM’s Strategic Board and Leadership Team, this new appointment means TWAM is well placed to develop its plans to welcome back visitors and the communities it works with, when it is safe to do so. Keith will take up his position at the end of April 2021.