Colin Philpott is to step down as Director of the National Media Museum in the Spring. He has decided he wants the opportunity to pursue long term and creative projects beyond the National Media Museum which include the publication of a book in Autumn next year.
Colin has been Director of the National Media Museum since 2004. During this time a number of major festivals, schemes and developments have taken place, including the renaming of the Museum as the National Media Museum, launch of the City of Film with UNESCO, the opening of the state-of-the-artExperience TV gallery and the imminent opening of Life Online - the world’s first museum gallery about the history and impact of the internet which is due to open in March next year.
He said: "I have loved working at the National Media Museum, however I now want to advance my career in other ways. I have a number of creative projects I want to develop and I am looking forward to pursuing other opportunities. I look forward to witnessing the Museum’s continuing success in the future."
Colin’s announcement is part of a reorganisation at the senior levels of the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI). NMSI is the parent group to which the National Media Museum belongs, along with the National Railway Museum, the Science Museum and MOSI – the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester – which is to join the group in the New Year.
The reorganisation of the NMSI is focused on further developing closer links with the Science Museum. As a result, there will no longer be a Director-level role at the National Media Museum. A newly created position of Head of the National Media Museum will report into the Deputy Director of the Science Museum. The change is a down-grading of the position within NMSI and had been resisted in the past.
Ian Blatchford, Director of NMSI said: "Colin has done a fantastic job at the National Media Museum and I thoroughly value his contribution. The new Head of the Museum will continue to work with the NMSI Executive Board and we are fully committed to the development of the National Media Museum in the years ahead."
Colin will be leaving at the end of April once the new Life Online gallery has opened and the new-style Bradford International Film Festival in Partnership with Virgin Media (taking place from 19th -29th of April) has been delivered.
The Guardian is also carrying the story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/dec/15/bradford-museums-nmm-colin-philpott-bradford-york-nmr
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It has been reported today that Mr Philpott has taken up the post of chief executive of the networking and advocacy group, Bradford Breakthrough, which represents Bradford’s leading business organisations and provides a forum for collaboration and lobbying across and beyond the city. He will combine the part-time role at Bradford Breakthrough with consultancy work, university lecturing and other creative projects.
There is more around Philpott's departure here: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/news_behind/9440526.Brad...