Calvin Winner, Head of Collections at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, has been appointed as the new Director of Gainsborough’s House and will commence his post in early May 2024.

Following an extensive search process supported by Saxton Bampfylde, Calvin impressed the museum’s trustees with his enthusiasm for the work of Thomas Gainsborough and its exploration through innovative curation, historic investigation and through encounters with the modern and contemporary artists he has influenced and who cast light back on his remarkable work and career.

Chair of Trustees, Professor Simon Ofield-Kerr said,

Gainsborough’s House has had a brilliant 10 years under its former director Mark Bills, culminating in the refurbishment of the historic house where Thomas Gainsborough was born and the addition of new, award-winning galleries. Calvin is the ideal person to realise this new potential through unmissable exhibitions, an innovative education programme, and authentic engagement with local communities. He has a deep rooted appreciation and knowledge of the East Anglia region, curating the most significant exhibition dedicated to Suffolk-born artist Elisabeth Frink for over 20 years, and has a particular interest in the dialogue that is possible between historic and contemporary art.

Head of Collections at the Sainsbury Centre, Calvin has played a key role in raising the Centre’s profile, successfully overseeing the stewardship of the Centre’s art collection as well as having wider strategic involvement in its overall curatorial vision. Calvin has significant experience of delivering major exhibitions as well as leading on the creative vision and delivery of the Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park. High-profile international exhibitions include ‘Francis Bacon and the Art of the Past’, a collaboration with the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, and the innovative Alberto Giacometti exhibition, ‘A Line Through Time’, which toured to Vancouver, Canada.

Said Calvin Winner,

I am delighted to be joining Gainsborough’s House at such an exciting time and following the wonderful work of our previous directors. Thomas Gainsborough is one of the nation’s greatest artists and I look forward to inviting audiences, existing and new. It is an honour to work with the Museum’s team in setting the future direction of this cherished place.