The Thackray Medical Museum has a new CEO

The Thackray Museum of Medicine is pleased to announce that Edward Appleyard will begin working at the award-winning institution in January 2023 as Chief Executive. This exciting news comes on the heels of the museum receiving the only UK nomination for the European Museum of the Year Awards, which will be held in Barcelona in May 2023.

Edward has an impressive resume, most recently serving as Director of Engagement at Harewood House Trust since 2018, where he oversaw all aspects of audience engagement, drawing on two decades of experience working in arts and culture environments. Prior to joining the museums and heritage sector, Edward focused on music, leading the hugely successful re-branding of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), as part of a team that won 26 national and international awards. He later used this experience to re-brand Harewood, which won Large Visitor Attraction of the Year in 2020 at the White Rose Awards. He previously worked at the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester.

The Thackray Museum of Medicine has also just been nominated for European Museum of the Year 2023, which reflects museums’ continuous efforts in developing quality work. The announcement of the winners and the formal EMYA Award Ceremony will take place during the Annual Conference of the European Museum Forum, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 3 to 6 May 2023. 

The Thackray Museum of Medicine had a record-breaking year in 2022, with record half-term visits and a Visitor Attraction Accolade for Best Told Story. Thackray Lates, new and thought-provoking exhibitions, family-friendly activities, the resumption of their popular Insight Lecture series exploring medical innovations, are all planned for 2023.

Edward Appleyard, CEO Thackray Museum of Medicine said: 

“I am delighted to join the team at Thackray at such an exciting time for this wonderful museum. The last few years have been turbulent for us all but the museum is at the forefront of an exciting new chapter following its re-opening and 25th anniversary celebrations in 2021, that same year being a finalist in ArtFund Museum of the Year, and most recently being nominated for European Museum of the Year 2023.

“Thackray is uniquely placed to inspire people with the passion of medicine and healthcare, but also to be a vital place of wellbeing and creativity for the local community and beyond. I look forward to taking this vision forward, to working with Thackray’s wonderfully ambitious team, and to building on the great success of recent years.”