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Tate Modern appoints head of Oslo’s National Museum Karin Hindsbo as new director

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karin hindsbo tate modern

She led the creation of the National Museum, merging four of Norway’s art and design institutions.

Tate Modern in London has appointed Karin Hindsbo, who is currently the director of Oslo’s National Museum, as its new director.

Hindsbo will step down from her current role this summer and will start leading Tate Modern in September 2023. She is the second woman to serve as the museum’s director.

“Tate Modern is a leading art museum and a ground-breaking institution,” she said. “I am beyond excited to join the skilled staff and to be a part of the whole Tate organisation.”

Hindsbo has been the National Museum‘s director since 2017. She oversaw the creation of the new venue, which merged four of Norway’s major art and design institutions under one roof. 

tate modern

Opened in June 2022 in a 54,600-square-metre building, the museum cares for a collection of 400,000 items.

“Tate Modern has always been a special place for me and I have had some of my greatest experiences encountering art there,” Hindsbo added.

“I am eager to continue the magnificent work being done, creating a unique and inspiring museum for a wide and diverse audience.”

Before joining the National Museum, Hindsbo worked as the director of various art institutions and museums in Norway and Denmark.

These include Kode in Bergen, Sørlandets Kunstmuseum in Kristiansand, Kunsthal Aarhus, and Den Frie Centre for Contemporary Art in Copenhagen.

Second woman to lead Tate Modern

She was also the editor-in-chief of Danish cultural journal Øjeblikket, and an external lecturer at the Institute of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Copenhagen.

“The success of the new National Museum in Oslo – delivered in the midst of a global pandemic – is a testament to [Hindsbo’s] skill as a leader,” said Maria Balshaw, Tate‘s director.

“Her nuanced and diverse approach to expressing national and transnational artistic ecologies chimes with Tate Modern’s ethos brilliantly.

“Working alongside the outstanding team at Tate Modern, I know Karin will bring vision, creativity and a spirit of artistic ambition that will enable us to continue reaching new heights in the years to come.”

Images: Nasjonalmuseet / Ina Wesenberg / Tate

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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