National Portrait Gallery appoints Victoria Siddall as First Ever Female Director

Victoria Siddall has been appointed by National Portrait Gallery as its first ever female director. This step by the gallery is a significant one towards inclusivity. She has also mentioned to be ‘honoured’ for getting this opportunity.

Bringing more than 20 years of experience in the art world, Victoria’s appointment has been announced after getting the approval from prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. Counting on her experience, she carries the title of co-founding the charities Gallery Climate Coalition and Murmur.

Victoria said, “I’m truly honoured to have the opportunity to lead the National Portrait Gallery, a museum that holds the world’s greatest collection of portraits and is unique in being about people and for people. The art within its walls tells stories of human achievement and what unites us as a society, inspiring and shaping our view of the world and our place in it. This is perhaps the most exciting time in the NPG’s history, following the recent reopening and Inspiring People project that the team delivered so flawlessly under Nicholas Cullinan’s leadership.”

Adding to the statement, she stated, “The perfect stage has been built and I am thrilled to work with my new colleagues, the museum’s trustees and supporters, and of course the artists, as we look to the future and embark on a new chapter.”