Leadership changes: Guy Baxter becomes our new Director

Since 2003, The Museum of English Rural Life been led by Kate Arnold-Forster. Kate’s stewardship has transformed us from an academic museum into a centre of engagement, research, and creativity that means so much to so many people – here in Reading, nationally, and across the globe. This evolution extends across the University of Reading’s wider museums and collections service, of which Kate has been Director since 2008.

Much of Kate’s career has been defined by her awareness of the immense potential of university museums and collections, her advocacy throughout the sector, and her leadership of teams that deliver this promise. For her immense contributions to university museums, Kate received an MBE in 2015.  

After a distinguished career, Kate will be retiring this autumn. So will Isabel Hughes, Associate Director of The Museum of English Rural Life since 2011, who joined us to lead the major redevelopment of our galleries from 2014-16. This project reimagined our galleries and spaces into those you know and love today. 

Whilst departures like these are always bittersweet, Kate and Isabel have left an incredible legacy for us to build upon, and we’re delighted to continue this work under Kate’s successor: our incoming Director, Guy Baxter (currently Head of Archive Services), who has been pivotal to our successes for almost 20 years, and associated with us for much longer. 

30 years of The MERL 

Guy first came to The MERL in 1997 to work on our photographic collections. As anyone who follows us online will know, these collections are a cornerstone of our work; they include millions of glass-plate negatives depicting the broad church of rural life, including prized animals like a particularly stocky Exmoor Horn ram that we might have once called ‘an absolute unit’.  

We’re not sure that Guy, Kate, or Isabel could have expected us to become famous on the Internet when they first joined the museum. Yet all arrived with a keen awareness of the immense potential of our collections for telling stories about the past and future of the countryside.

After the end of his first project at The MERL, Guy took up a post as an archivist at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1999, initially in the Archive of Art and Design. In 2002, he moved to the V&A’s theatre and performance collections (then the Theatre Museum), performing a dual role as Archivist and Conservation Manager.  

“My time at the V&A, which remains one of my favourite places, was tremendously rewarding, and I learnt a huge amount,” Guy said. “In my first role, I had the chance to work with curators from across every department, as well as with the National Art Library’s knowledgeable team of librarians and archivists. At the Theatre Museum, I had to manage every type of collection – from the archives, books and photographs with which I was most familiar, to costumes, paintings and large pieces of scenery. Quite a challenge!” 

In 2008, Guy returned to the University of Reading in a senior leadership role, as Head of Archive Services across the University’s Museums and Collections. This included The MERL as well as the University’s Special Collections, with whom we share our site. Special Collections contains internationally significant holdings related to rare books and archives– including the world’s largest collections of work and materials related to Samuel Beckett and James Joyce. There is much more to The MERL than meets the eye. 

Under Guy’s stewardship of our archives, we revolutionised our approach to managing, cataloguing, and sharing these collections with the world. We implemented and extended our systems and websites; championed the rapidly growing need for digital preservation; negotiated key acquisitions (such as the Solange and Steven James Joyce Collection); and made our collections available for major research projects. Guy also played a key part in reimagining The MERL’s public engagement offer, particularly by championing Romany and Traveller communities, enhancing how we represent and empower them through our collections and programmes. 

What does the future hold? 

“I’m extremely excited to step into this role, to lead such a talented team, and build on the immense legacy left by Kate,” Guy said. 

“In the past 25 years we have transformed our museums and collections through our interdisciplinary collaborations across museums, libraries, archives, and University of Reading scholarship.

“As we look to the future, we will continue to explore how we can use the University’s museums and collections to meet the challenges of the world today. We will deepen our commitments to open and inclusive practice, evolve our support of the University and our partners across the community, and continue to open new doorways for discovery, relaxation, and creativity for our many audiences.  

“I believe museums and collections can genuinely change lives, and that we should provide opportunities for learning, creativity and enjoyment to as many people as possible. I’m excited for everything we can achieve in the years to come.” 

Dr Karen Henderson, the University of Reading’s Director of Research and Innovation, added: “I’m delighted that Guy will be continuing his many years of service to the University.

“Museums and collections are a treasure of the University – as a space of learning, enjoyment, and comfort for students, academics, and people across the town.

“As a senior leader for many years, Guy’s appointment brings continuity to the achievements of the University’s museums and collections. But it is also an exciting moment for growth and innovation. I look forward to sharing in Guy’s successes in the years to come.”

Our thanks and best wishes to Kate and Isabel

As we look towards the future, we reflect on the immense work that Kate and Isabel achieved and enabled in their time with us.

From all of us in the University’s museums and collections, we wish Kate and Isabel very happy and well-deserved retirements. 

If you have any queries about our leadership changes or our practice, please contact Joe Vaughan, Marketing Manager, at joe.vaughan@reading.ac.uk. Photography by Laura Bennetto.