Key facts
- Jessica Morgan has been appointed the new director of Tate.
- Morgan previously worked as a curator at Tate for over a decade.
Jessica Morgan has been confirmed as the new director of Tate, returning to the institution where she previously worked as a curator. She is accepting a substantial pay cut to take on the role, citing her commitment to the organization's mission.
Jessica Morgan's appointment signals a new direction for Tate, aiming to address financial challenges and low staff morale. Her acceptance of a significant pay cut underscores her commitment to the institution's mission and her reputation as a transformative leader in the art world.
Jessica Morgan has been appointed as the new director of Tate, returning to the institution where she previously served as a curator for over a decade. Morgan, who has been leading the Dia Art Foundation in New York since 2015, will take up her new role in January.
Tate's chair, Roland Rudd, confirmed that Morgan is accepting a "very big pay cut" to join the organization, stating that he paid her the most he could under the existing constraints. Morgan's previous salary at Dia was reportedly substantially higher than the £220,000-£225,000 earned by her predecessor, Maria Balshaw.
Tate described Morgan as an "agent of change" who will be tasked with navigating the organization through financial challenges, improving staff morale, and addressing fluctuating visitor numbers. Rudd expressed confidence in Morgan's ability to transform the institution, noting her success at Dia in bringing people along with her vision.
Morgan stated that it is an immense privilege to lead Tate, which she called the "world's foremost institution for international modern and contemporary art and for British art." She emphasized that her time as a curator at Tate deeply informed her work at Dia, where she prioritized artists and the public. She looks forward to advancing the work of Tate's team.
The institution has faced difficulties in recent years, including financial impacts from the pandemic, redundancies, restructuring, and internal conflicts that reportedly left staff morale "on the floor." Despite recent successes like the Tracey Emin and Frida Kahlo exhibitions, Tate's multiple sites present financial exposure. Some believe the institution has lacked a clear direction since the departure of Nicholas Serota.
Morgan's appointment was widely anticipated due to her connections to Tate and her reputation as a talented curator and fundraiser. Frances Morris, former director of Tate Modern, described Morgan as "hugely hardworking" and possessing a strong sense of integrity. Morgan's curatorial focus has been on discovering and showcasing artists from the Middle East, South Asia, South Korea, and Latin America.