Turner’s House Trust appoints director and chair

Turner’s House Trust, which runs Turner’s House museum in Twickenham, has announced the appointment of Jennifer Francis as museum director and Lucy Littlewood as chair with immediate effect. 

Francis has held senior positions in a range of museums and galleries around the world, including the Royal Academy of Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and most recently the Museum of London.  

Littlewood is an award-winning television producer and presenter, and has worked more recently as a senior strategic leader in the arts and heritage sector at the Serpentine Galleries, British Council and Museum of the Home, as well as director of the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust.

The director’s appointment follows the departure of Matthew Morgan, who is moving away from London after two and a half years running Turner’s House. 

Turner’s House is the only surviving home of the artist Joseph Mallord William Turner. Built in 1813 to Turner's own design, the house was restored in 2017 with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Francis said: “I am honoured to join Turner’s House as museum director. Turner’s House holds a unique place in the art world, I am excited to work with Lucy and the other talented trustees to build on its success while further enhancing its reputation and reach. I look forward to engaging with the community and visitors to celebrate the legacy of J.M.W. Turner.”

Littlewood said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Francis to Turner’s House. Her fantastic experience and visionary approach to museum management make her the ideal candidate to lead us into a new era. We are confident that under her direction, Turner’s House will continue to grow and engage with an even broader audience.”

The board expressed gratitude to Morgan for “his inspiring and energetic leadership”.