Wednesday, 26 February 2025

Eleri Lynn succeeds Lucy Worsley as chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces

NEWS!

I'm both sad & excited to say that at the end of 2024, I'll be leaving my job as Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces! I've had the best colleagues in history for 21 years, but I want to spend more time with my friends at our #LadyKillers podcast and our growing #LadyKillers community❤️

In case you're new round here: the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces are the wonderful people who love and look after places like Hampton Court and the Tower of London, and welcome in visitors.  I'm going to be continuing to support the great work they do!

You might find this hard to believe, as obviously I don't look a day older, but this is actually a picture of me as a very young curator more than 20 years ago.

You can join and support Historic Royal Palaces here:

https://www.hrp.org.uk/membership/?utm_medium=paid_search...




 

Eleri Lynn succeeds Lucy Worsley as chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces

 

Fashion and textiles historian appointed to oversee curatorial team and presentation of charity's palaces and collections

 

24 February 2025

Curatorial

Geraldine Kendall Adams

https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/02/eleri-lynn-succeeds-lucy-worsley-as-chief-curator-at-historic-royal-palaces/#:~:text=Historic%20Royal%20Palaces%20(HRP)%20has,of%202024%20after%2021%20years.

 

Eleri Lynn is a fashion and textiles historian Historic Royal Palaces

Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) has announced the appointment of Eleri Lynn as its new chief curator.

 

A fashion history and textiles expert, and award-winning author, Lynn succeeds the historian and TV presenter Lucy Worsley, who stepped down as chief curator at the end of 2024 after 21 years.

 

HRP is an independent charity responsible for six of the UK’s royal palaces: the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle.

 

Lynn will lead the institution’s curatorial team, overseeing research and presentation of its palaces and collections.

 

In a statement, the charity said: “Lynn has dedicated her career to exploring fashion history, image-making, and the power of dress as a form of communication.

 

“Her special interests include inclusive storytelling and research, the intersection between fashion and politics and the performance of power through dress in the Tudor court.

 

 “Lynn shares HRP’s commitment to ensuring the rich and diverse histories of the charity’s six sites and 60,000-strong collection are explored, sharing the stories of the palaces, and ensuring overlooked histories are brought to light.

 

“As chief curator, she will guide HRP’s curatorial team in researching and presenting these extraordinary historic sites and collections, ensuring their stories continue to inspire audiences worldwide. She will also spearhead innovative exhibitions and curatorial projects that celebrate the rich and complex histories of these palaces.”

 

Originally from South Wales, Lynn is a fluent Welsh speaker and a champion of accessibility in the heritage sector.

 

The appointment marks her return to HRP, where she served as curator of collections from 2013-2021.

 

During her previous tenure, Lynn curated well-known exhibitions including Diana: Her Fashion Story and The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I. She also oversaw the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, one of the world’s most significant holdings of historic fashion, which comprises 10,000 items of historic dress and related materials.

 

More recently, Lynn worked at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, where she led on the institution’s exhibitions and international touring strategy, overseeing programming across seven national sites.

 

She also spent a decade at the Victoria & Albert Museum, contributing to blockbuster exhibitions such as Savage Beauty: Alexander McQueen and The Golden Age of Couture.

 

Lynn is currently a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a trustee of the Royal School of Needlework.

 

“Eleri is an exceptional curator with a passion for bringing history to life,” said Adrian Phillips, HRP’s director of palaces and collections. “Her expertise, creative vision, and commitment to inclusive storytelling make her the perfect leader to guide our curatorial team into the future.”

 

Lynn said: “It’s an honour to take on this role at Historic Royal Palaces. These palaces and their remarkable collections hold some of the most fascinating stories in British history, and I look forward to working with the team to share them with new audiences in fresh and exciting ways.”


No comments: