Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry has a new Director, Sally MacDonald, currently UCL’s Director of Public and Cultural Engagement, who grew up and began her career in Manchester.
She will succeed Jean Franczyk who leaves in the autumn to become Deputy Director of the Science Museum.
The announcement was made by Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum Group, who said: “I’m confident that Sally can build on the fresh impetus Jean has brought to the Museum of Science & Industry since it became part of the Science Museum Group.
“Sally has an excellent professional pedigree, but what has impressed us most is her vision for inspiring and enriching visitors through the museum’s wonderful collections and developing its reputation as a museum at the cutting edge of science. We could not have found a better leader for the museum’s dedicated team and this world-class cultural attraction.”
Sally MacDonald’s current role at UCL includes leading the university’s three public museums and 10 teaching and research collections. Her successful career in museums, which has included building an award-winning museum service from scratch in Croydon, began in Manchester where she curated the decorative art collections at City Art Gallery.
She said: “The opportunity to return to my home city to lead an organisation with such outstanding collections, buildings and people – in the most exciting city in the UK – is an extraordinary honour. I can’t wait to get started.”
“It’s clear that under Jean’s expert stewardship the Museum of Science & Industry has made great strides and I’m privileged to be leading the next stage of its development as a museum to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and inventors. I see tremendous potential for collaboration both with partners in Greater Manchester and across the Science Museum Group through mutual loans, shared expertise and joint programming.”
The appointment comes at an exciting time for the Museum of Science & Industry. The Chancellor George Osborne recently announced an £800,000 investment, allowing the museum to take the first steps towards creating a bespoke temporary exhibition facility. This will enable the museum to develop more original content and shift the centre of gravity of the Science Museum Group northwards.
