Episode 61
Salma Tuqan – Cultural leadership at Nottingham Contemporary
SUMMARY
Salma Tuqan is Director of Nottingham Contemporary – one of Britain’s most prestigious galleries outside of London. She has worked with arts organistions all over the world, and for eight years was inaugural Curator of Middle Eastern Art at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. During Episode 61 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, Salma talks to Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about her cultural leadership, her Palestinian heritage and her fundamental faith in people.
INTRODUCTION
• Salma Tuqan has been Director of Nottingham Contemporary since 2023. She is a contemporary art and design curator and cultural strategist
• In addition to her role at Nottingham Contemporary, she is also a board member at the Rivers Institute in New Orleans and a committee member of the Arab Image Foundation.
• Salma spent eight years (2011 – 2019) as the inaugural Middle East Curator at London’s V&A Museum.
• She was previously Head of Projects at Arts Dubai international art fair
• Salma moved to Britain to go to school. She graduated from Cambridge University with BA and MA degrees in the History of Art.
• She was born into a Palestinian family and spent her early years in Kuwait. Her father was brought up in Lebanon – her mother in Libya.
LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS from Salma Tuqan
On what underpins her leadership…
“I fundamentally believe in people. That has carried through my whole career and into my leadership style."
On having well-defined personal values…
“I feel very strongly about equity, honesty, transparency and social justice. That lends itself hugely to the leadership principles I believe in… which are ultimately all about community."
On running one of Britain’s most prestigious galleries outside of London…
“It’s challenging, but it's also exciting… creating a diversity of income streams… not being wholly reliant on one source… really thinking about the creative capital that exists within the team."
On the skills needed in her leadership role…
“It’s about project management. It's about relationship building. It’s about collaboration, And it’s also about fundraising."
On the importance of perspective…
“[As a leader] you need to have an attitude of putting things in perspective, taking them in your stride. Rolling with things is important."
On the importance of planning…
“We're developing a business plan ‘til the end of the decade… future-proofing the organization. You need to leave something in a better place than where you found it."
And advice for would-be leaders?
“Know when to not take things too seriously! There are many instances in my career that I imagined were huge challenges or obstacles. Actually, many turned out to be blessings."
RELATED LINKS
• There’s more about Salma Tuqan on her website
• Salma Tuqan’s LinkedIn pages are here
• Salma Tuqan is a selection committee member for 2025 Onassis AiR Open Call
If you enjoyed this episode NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Salma Tuqan, listen to previous episodes with…
• the CEO of Nottingham Building Society Sue Hayes
• the Chief Marketing Officer of Boots UK Pete Markey
• former Vice President of Manufacturing at Toyota Europe Marvin Cooke OBE
