Professor Erma Hermens appointed as new Director of the Hamilton Kerr Institute, and Deputy Director of The Fitzwilliam Museum

Professor Erma Hermens currently the Rijksmuseum Chair in Studio Practice and Technical Art History, at the History of Art department, University of Amsterdam and Senior researcher in the Department of Conservation and Science at the Rijksmuseum, has been appointed as the new Director of the Hamilton Kerr Institute and Deputy Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge.

Professor Hermens will replace Rupert Featherstone who will retire in December after nearly 14 years at the Hamilton Kerr Institute following a distinguished career at The Royal Collection Trust intermitted by three years in Kolata, India as Chief Restorer of the Calcutta Tercentenary Trust's programme, leading an international team of conservators.

The Fitzwilliam Museum is hugely grateful for his contributions as Assistant Director, Conservation, as well as for his work building the Hamilton Kerr Institute's client base and steering it on its first steps towards full integration with the wider University.

Professor Hermens joins the Fitzwilliam during a period of transformational change for the Museum’s development in the context of its role as lead partner of the University of Cambridge Museums, which is a sector-leading Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.

Speaking about her appointment she said:

‘I am delighted to be appointed as the new director of the Hamilton Kerr Institute, and to work with a great team to reimagine the institute and build on the fantastic resources of the Fitzwilliam Museum. I look forward to integrate the wider expertise in conservation, heritage science and technical art history, present across Cambridge University, and extend the HKI’s national and international networks, to make the HKI a world leading multidisciplinary center for conservation and heritage research.’

Professor Erma Hermens joins the Fitzwilliam Museum on February 1st 2022.

3 December 2021