Kunsthaus Zürich Appoints Ann Demeester as Director, Starting January 2023
Ann Demeester, currently director of the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, Netherlands, has been appointed director of the Kunsthaus Zürich, succeeding Christoph Becker. She was selected from a pool of 40 candidates by a search committee including international experts. Demeester will take up the post on January 1, 2023, after a transition period beginning in January 2022. The appointment comes as the Kunsthaus prepares to open a major extension by David Chipperfield Architects on October 9, 2021, which will make it Switzerland's largest art museum, expecting 380,000 annual visitors.
The Signal
Demeester's appointment signals a strategic shift toward a more inclusive, public-oriented approach, drawing on her track record of blending historical collections with contemporary art. She has led institutions such as the Frans Hals Museum and de Appel arts centre, and has worked with artists including Luc Tuymans and Richard Tuttle. Her experience placing Old Masters in dialogue with modern works aligns with the Kunsthaus's broad collection from the 13th century to the present, including its renowned Giacometti and Munch holdings. The museum's board praised her management style and ability to foster team spirit.
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- Artists: Luc Tuymans, Richard Tuttle, Salla Tykka, Mika Rottenberg
- People: Ann Demeester, Christoph Becker, Anne Keller Dubach, Corine Mauch
- Museums: Frans Hals Museum, de Appel arts centre, Stedelijk Museum of Contemporary Art in Ghent, MARTa Herford Museum, Kunsthaus Zürich
- Locations: Zurich
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