Rebecca Fons, as photographed by Sally Bond.

Rebecca Fons joins the Barbican from the United States, where she has been working as a film curator

Photo: Sally Bond

Changing Faces

Barbican’s new head of cinema to stress ‘creative collaboration’

Arts Professional
2 min read

Film curator REBECCA FONS is to join London’s Barbican Centre as head of cinema in September this year.

Fons comes to the Barbican from the Gene Siskel Film Center, a public programme of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she has led on programming.

The former Chicagoan of the Year in Film winner takes over a role previously held by Gali Gold, with Fons vowing to emphasise cross-disciplinary collaboration and the communal experience of cinema.

She said: “I am honoured to join the talented Barbican team, and work alongside my colleagues to uphold the centre’s revered history of presenting distinct, thoughtfully curated cinema; while shepherding creative collaboration across disciplines at the Barbican, and exploring what we can create together beyond the frame.

“Film has been my passion and profession for over two decades, and the opportunity to facilitate the coming together of friends, neighbours, and strangers for the collective moviegoing experience is a great privilege.”

DEYVANI SALTZMAN, director for arts and participation at the Barbican, added: “I’m incredibly excited to welcome Rebecca to the Barbican.

“Her love and knowledge of film, her experience helming the Gene Siskel Film Center, connected to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her passionate and collaborative approach to leadership, will only allow us to build on the amazing work of the Barbican cinema team whilst contributing to realising our renewed artistic vision going forward. I can’t wait for her to join us.”