Media Space appoints photography chief

The Science Museum Group has named Kate Bush as its head of photography.

In her new role, Bush, who was the former head of art galleries at London’s Barbican Centre, will lead a programme of photography exhibitions for Media Space, the Science Museum’s new photography and art gallery, and the National Media Museum in Bradford.

She will also be responsible for the development of a major touring programme to bring the National Photography Collection to a wider national and international audience.

“In luring Kate to our group of museums, we are uniting the most inspiring advocate for photography I’ve met with one of the greatest photography collections in the world,” says Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum Group in a press statement. “Media Space has made an excellent start in raising the profile of the National Photography Collection; the next step is to ensure our exhibitions become an integral part of the top league touring circuit.”

The new role will involve forging strong relationships throughout the international photography community and securing key temporary exhibitions for the two museums in London and Bradford. Bush will also oversee an active acquisitions plan.

She will take up the newly created role on 28 July.

Greg Hobson, current curator of photographs at the National Media Museum, will continue in his role.

“I am thrilled to be joining a museum with such an exciting and energetic vision for the future,” says Bush. “This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to create a world-class programme of photography exhibitions in the beautiful new galleries in London, as well as Bradford and internationally. I can see tremendous scope in this role to develop new audiences and new approaches to the exhibition and study of photography. It’s an extraordinary collection which demands to be better known and I am looking forward to working with the teams to achieve that.”

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