Skip to content Accessibility statement

Curating Modern Art Today

Talk

Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Director of the British Museum

This event has now finished.

Event date
Monday 17 November 2025, 6pm to 7pm
Location
In-person only
Room SLB/118, Spring Lane Building, Campus West, University of York (Map)
Audience
Open to alumni, staff, students, the public
Admission
Free admission, booking required

Event details

Cantor Modern Art Lecture

We are delighted to welcome Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Director of the British Museum, for this special edition of the Cantor Lectures, focusing on curating modern and contemporary art.

With a career that bridges some of the world's most prestigious institutions - including Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Portrait Gallery - Dr Cullinan has worked extensively with living artists across his career.  From contemporary interventions at the British Museum to the landmark transformation of the National Portrait Gallery, his work reflects a deep commitment to innovation, collaboration, and public engagement.

In conversation with Dr James Boaden from the University of York, Dr Cullinan will reflect on his journey from his experience of growing up in Yorkshire to a career that has challenged institutional narratives internationally. He will discuss major projects such as the commission of Tracy Emin’s The Doors for the National Portrait Gallery, as well as the record-breaking Henri Matisse: The Cutouts exhibition at Tate Modern.

Image credits: Nicholas Cullinan portrait - Tim Walker, 2024.  British Museum - Adrian Evans Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Venue details

Wheelchair accessible

Hearing loop