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Professorship for the Barber’s Director
The new Director of the Barber Institute, Dr Ann Sumner, has been appointed Professor of Fine Art and Curatorial Practice by the University of Birmingham in recognition of her strong research and curatorial record.
After studying at the Courtauld Institute of Fine Art, University of London, Professor Sumner took a PhD in history at Newnham College, Cambridge. From the start of her working life, Professor Sumner’s curatorial and academic projects have often been inextricably linked – her thesis on 17th-century nobleman George, Lord Digby, was later transformed into a successful exhibition entitled Death, Passion and Politics at Dulwich Picture Gallery, London. She has also published on the argument for a Welsh historic school in art and researched the Welsh landscape artist Thomas Jones. Other areas of research and publication have included portrait miniatures, Thomas Gainsborough and collectors such as Rev John Sandford, whose account book is held at the Barber and the Davies sisters, who collected French Impressionist art.
Professor Sumner has worked on the curatorial teams at three university galleries to date, including the Holburne Museum at the University of Bath and the Whitworth Art Gallery at the University of Manchester, in addition to the Barber Institute. Having gained her first job at the National Portrait Gallery, London, she has also worked as a curator at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Harewood House in Yorkshire, and the National Museum, Cardiff, where she was Head of Fine Art for eight years until her appointment to the Barber, and has been a member of the National Inventory for European Paintings steering committee, researching pictures in public art collections and supervising research assistants.
On announcing the news, Vice-Principal Michael Clarke said: 'The University is delighted to be able to confer upon Ann the title "Professor of Fine Art and Curatorial Practice". During her first three months in post, Ann has made an impressive start as Director of the Barber Institute, and already enhanced the gallery's strong curatorial programme. The conferring of the Chair recognises her strong record in publishing and lecturing. Along with the Barber trustees, the University is confident that the Barber Institute will go from strength to strength under her leadership.’
Professor Sumner said: ‘Coming from a curatorial background, it is a particular honour that my research profile should be honoured in this way. I am enormously looking forward to working with the University’s Department of History of Art and sharing my enthusiasm and expertise with students.’
23 January 2008
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