City's culture chief quits weeks before UK City of Culture shortlist announced

[dutchman]

Gary Hall has left his role with Culture Coventry



The man responsible for some of Coventry’s biggest cultural assets has left his job just weeks before the shortlist for UK City of Culture will be announced.

Culture Coventry has confirmed the Telegraph's earlier story which revealed Gary Hall, the chief executive for Culture Coventry, had left his post.

Mr Hall oversaw the £9.5 million refurbishment of the transport museum - which included the revamp of the old grammar school building.

But the grammar school work drew criticism recently after unsightly litter, weeds and deteriorating stonework was spotted at the site just 18 months after the refurbishment was completed.

There were also questions over the level of use for the site with the building sitting closed and empty for the vast majority of the year.

It is understood the situation with the grammar school had become a source of friction between Mr Hall and the transport museum’s board of trustees in recent weeks.

A statement from Culture Coventry read: "Gary Hall has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Coventry Transport Museum and more recently of Culture Coventry – which manages the Transport Museum, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Lunt Roman Fort and the Old Grammar School that attract around 800,000 visitors every year.

"He has decided to leave Culture Coventry Charitable Trust to pursue new opportunities and fulfil some long-held ambitions.

"Over the last decade Gary has made a significant contribution in developing Coventry’s growing cultural offer and increasing the profile of all the Trust’s attractions nationally and internationally.

"He has overseen the redevelopment of Coventry Transport Museum, the Old Grammar School and Lunt Roman Fort, as well as the establishment of the Transport Museum’s Patron’s Society and the recent partnerships at the Herbert with national museums."

It added: "While the Trust searches for a new chief executive, the museums, their events, educational, outreach and partnerships activities, including the support of the Coventry City of Culture 2021 bid, will continue as normal under the senior leadership team with the support of the Board of Trustees."

Mr Hall said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working at the Transport Museum and at Culture Coventry and I am proud at what we have achieved.

“However, I now feel it is now time for the next phase of Culture Coventry’s development to be led by a new Chief Executive.”

Roger Medwell, chair of the Culture Coventry Board of Trustees, paid tribute to Gary’s achievements.

He said: “We want to recognise the significant contribution Gary has made over the last 10 years and to express our sincere gratitude to him for his hard work, determination and achievements.

“Although we are sorry to see Gary leave, we respect his decision to hand over his legacy to someone new.”