Published on 03 February 2021
Keith Merrin, Director of the University's National Glass Centre and Chief Executive of Sunderland Culture, will be leaving to take up the post of Director at Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM) at the beginning of May.
In a joint statement, Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland and Jane Earl, Chair of Sunderland Culture, said: "We congratulate Keith on his new role with our friends and colleagues at TWAM. We also thank him for his work in leading Sunderland Culture and establishing the National Glass Centre as one of the most visited cultural venues in the north-east of England.
"Keith came to the University in 2016 and, within months, was combining the role of Director with that of Chief Executive at Sunderland Culture – set up by, Sunderland City Council, the University of Sunderland and the Sunderland Music Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust to operate cultural venues and develop the city’s creative sector.
"In the combined role, Keith has been at the forefront of unprecedented cultural investment in Sunderland and a series of high-profile events including Danny Boyle’s Armistice centenary event, Pages of the Sea, and the Tall Ships cultural festival, all of which have played a major part in developing the vibrancy of the City.
"The University and the Board of Sunderland Culture will be announcing interim arrangements to cover Keith’s duties to ensure a smooth transition when he leaves in the spring. A decision on the recruitment of new leadership for Sunderland Culture and the National Glass Centre will be announced at a later date."