Former chairman of V&A takes charge at Biennial

Jan 18 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL Biennial has appointed Paula Ridley as the new chairman of its board.

The former chairman of the V&A Museum will take up the post in March and takes hold of the mantle from Declan McGonagle, who remains on the board.

Director Lewis Biggs said: “Paula comes to us with considerable experience at the top level of our national arts organisations, and we look forward to benefiting from her leadership, contacts, and commitment to quality when she takes up her role as Chairman of the Biennial’s Board.”

Ms Ridley CBE, is a graduate of the University of Liverpool and until very recently was a member of its council. She has a long connection with Liverpool, and was appointed the first Chairman of Tate Liverpool, a post she held for 10 years while also serving as a Tate Trustee and as a Trustee of the National Gallery.

In 1998, she was appointed to the Chairmanship of the V&A Museum from which she has just retired after nine years.

She said: “Liverpool Biennial is clearly one of the most innovative visual arts organisations in the UK.

“I feel privileged to join the Biennial during Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture, at such an exciting time for the city. I’m also looking forward to working closely with Lewis and the Board during the next phase of the Biennial’s growth.”