Museum London appoints new executive director

Julie Bevan will step into the role of Museum London executive director in April

MUSEUM LONDON HAS tapped the former director of the Nanaimo Art Gallery to serve as its new executive director, the Museum announced on Friday.

Effective April 4, Julie Bevan, who oversaw the Nanaimo Art Gallery for seven years before a two-year job with the City of Nanaimo, will lead Museum London, taking over from long-time director Brian Meehan, who is retiring this year.

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“I am delighted to be joining the team at Museum London,” says Bevan, “it is an honour and tremendous opportunity. Museum London is poised to become increasingly influential, vibrant and responsive to meet the challenges of our time and the needs of the diverse peoples’ it serves.”

“The search committee was enormously impressed by the high calibre candidates that expressed interest in the Museum,” says Museum London board chair, Sarah Padfield. “We are very confident that Julie is the leader who can and will continue to build on Museum London’s reputation as one of Canada’s premier art and history museums and a community-focused cultural centre.”

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After her tenure leading the NAG, Bevan moved into the newly-created role of manager of culture & events in Nanaimo. During her time there, Bevan was awarded the Nanaimo Chamber’s “Above & Beyond” award in 2020 for her work leading the city’s cultural strategy. She is a graduate of Carleton University and UBC, and a former fellow at the Getty Leadership Institute.

“Museums have a unique capacity to transform lives, to connect us more deeply to our histories and to each other,” notes Bevan, “I am passionate about creating opportunities for artists, making meaning with and for audiences, and about how Museums continue to evolve as accessible and inclusive cultural resources, places for learning, dialogue, inspiration and play. I am eager to join the team at Museum London and to collaborate across the community.” Kieran Delamont