National Museum Wales announced the appointment of David Anderson, Director of Learning and Interpretation at the Victoria and Albert Museum, as Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ new Director General.
David Anderson was chosen from a selection of high calibre international candidates because of his deep understanding of the role of national museums and museum culture, his particular expertise of the role of education in museums, and the passion he demonstrated to take on the role.
His 20 years experience at one of the world’s leading museums makes him well placed to lead Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and he will begin his new role in October 2010.
David Anderson is an established international authority on learning initiatives in museums and an adviser to Government on many projects, including national museum and gallery education strategy. In 1999, he was awarded an OBE for services to museums and education. He has in the recent past conducted seminars for the Trustees and staff of Amgueddfa Cymru, on the educational role of the Museum.
In his first role at the V&A as Head of Education, he created the first team in a UK national museum dedicated to community education. As Director of Learning and Interpretation, he led the development of the Museum’s new £4 million Sackler Centre for Arts Education, which opened in 2008 and formed the National Museums Online Learning Project – the only public project that national museums have undertaken together.
Born in Belfast and brought up in Warwickshire, David Anderson was initially inspired to study archaeology by his radical rugby-playing history teacher, which, in turn, led to him specialising in Irish history at Edinburgh University.
