Wellcome announced today that Melanie Keen, currently Director and Chief Curator of Iniva (the Institute of International Visual Arts), has been appointed Director of Wellcome Collection, the free museum and library for the incurably curious in London, UK. She will take up the role in Autumn 2019.
Melanie Keen has been instrumental in the revitalisation of Iniva’s mission and vision, putting the Stuart Hall Library at the centre of its artistic programme. She also led the organisation's relocation to the Chelsea campus of the University of the Arts London.
In a career spanning over twenty years, Melanie has worked as an independent curator and consultant, and as a senior relationship manager at Arts Council England. She is an Independent Advisor to the Government Art Collection, sits on the British Council’s Visual Arts Advisory Group and sat on the Mayor of London’s Suffrage Commission Group in 2018 which saw the commission of an artwork by the first female artist, Gillian Wearing, in Parliament Sq. She was on the Selection Committee for the British Pavilion, Venice Biennial 2019.
The role of Director was previously held by Simon Chaplin. This was combined with his position as Director of Culture & Society, which he continues to lead with Wellcome Collection as part of its portfolio.