Past│Present│Future: A Conversation Between Museum Directors

Timothy Potts joined Getty as director of the J. Paul Getty Museum in September 2012. His previous position was director and Marlay Curator of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, from 2008 to 2012, where he was also professorial fellow and director of studies in the history of art at Clare College. Previous to that, he was director of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas from 1998 to 2007, director of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, from 1994 to 1998, and a research lecturer and research fellow in ancient art and archaeology at Christ Church, Oxford, from 1984 to 1990. He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Born in Sydney, Australia, he holds a B.A. with double first class honors and university medals in archaeology/ancient art and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and a D.Phil. (PhD) in ancient Near Eastern art and archaeology from the University of Oxford. Dr. Potts is the author of numerous publications on ancient art, culture, and history; museum studies; and art history.

Dr. Nicholas Cullinan OBE became director of the British Museum in June 2024. Previously the director of the National Portrait Gallery, he oversaw the biggest transformation of the Gallery since its building opened in 1896. Prior to this, he was a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Tate Modern in London. Nicholas received his PhD in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and has held fellowships including the Hilla Rebay International Fellowship at the Guggenheim museums in Bilbao, New York and Venice. He was awarded an OBE for services to the Arts in 2024.