Susan McCormack

The Ashmolean is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading university museums as well as a world-class museum in the heart of England.
 
Susan was employed previously for over 16 years at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. She worked first as a curator, and then set up the international travelling exhibitions programme, before becoming Head of Contemporary Programmes. In this role she pioneered a vibrant, popular and critically acclaimed programme of exhibitions, artist’s commissions, live happenings and other initiatives which covered all aspects of contemporary culture and encouraged new audiences to engage with the historic collections of the V&A. During her time as Head of Contemporary Programmes, public perception of the V&A as a ‘contemporary’ museum was transformed and the V&A more than doubled its visitor figures.  Key initiatives launched during her tenure were Friday Late, Fashion in Motion, the V&A Contemporary Gallery and V&A Garden Commissions. With wide ranging knowledge of art and design, her particular field of expertise is in new forms of public engagement.
 
Susan studied Art History at the Australian National University and worked at the National Gallery of Australia before moving to the UK in 1991.  She has been a member of the British Council Design Advisory Board and the Arts Council England Advisory Board, North of England and has acted as Trustee for Contemporary Applied Arts, London and Artpoint, Oxford.