New Director General for National Galleries of Scotland

ANNE LYDEN has joined National Galleries of Scotland as Director General. She is the first female to hold the role in the organisation’s history.

Lyden will take up the role on 1 January 2024, taking over from Sir JOHN LEIGHTON, who departs following a 17-year tenure.

Lyden joined the National Galleries of Scotland first as International Photography Curator and then as Chief Curator, Photography.

In 2022, she became Interim Co-Director of Collection and Research, overseeing the public programme across three sites and building on research initiatives to widen accessibility and representation within the collection.

Previously, she held various curatorial positions at the J.Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, where she worked for 18 years from 1995, most recently in the role of Associate Curator. 

BENNY HIGGINS, Chair of National Galleries of Scotland board, who led the recruitment process, said Lyden brought “a strong understanding of the national collection and our talented people, together with extensive international experience”.   

He said: “Anne’s strong personal values and leadership style, coupled with her knowledge of art, will see us deliver on our strategic commitments, and I am looking forward to working with her.”

Lyden added: “It is my great privilege to continue the excellent work led by Sir John and colleagues over the years, most recently the success of the new Scottish galleries at the National.

 “I am eager to continue my work with trustees, colleagues, community partners, audiences, artists, and supporters in realising our plans for the future, including The Art Works, our new collections facility in North Edinburgh.

“Having worked with the national collection and a wide range of colleagues over the last ten years, I am delighted to continue this experience of making art accessible to everyone."