CAMBRIDGE.- Kettle’s Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum announced the appointment of Habda Rashid to the new post of Curator of Modern and Contemporary British Art.

Habda will work across the two Cambridge University museums with a remit to shape and deliver collections-based research, public programming and curatorial work on the collections of 20th and 21st-century British art, within a global context. A specific focus of the role is to bring new and under-represented perspectives, voices and artworks into these collections, including through new acquisitions and commissions. The appointment reflects an increasingly close collaboration between museums and departments across Cambridge, to catalyse research and public engagement.

Habda moves to Kettle’s Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum from Create London where she worked as Senior Curator: Contemporary Art and most recently as Interim Artistic Director: Contemporary Art. In these two roles Habda led a new vision for the arts programme which took a global perspective and supported under-represented artists. As part of the senior management team she played a crucial role in the strategic development of Create. Prior to this Habda Rashid worked as Assistant Curator at Whitechapel Gallery, London for 7 years. Her extensive experience of contemporary art has seen her commission new works and curate exhibitions with a wide range of artists including Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Shezad Dawood, Michael Rakowitz, Eva Rothschild, Emma Smith and Veronica Ryan.

She studied Sociology at Northumbria University before completing the Curating the Contemporary MA at London Metropolitan University and Whitechapel Gallery.

Habda Rashid says: ‘I am delighted to be joining colleagues at Kettle’s Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum, two important and unique institutions, at a moment of ambition to grow the collections and expand the stories told by art to reach the widest possible audiences.

Cambridge is a special place and the opportunity to continue my research as part of its esteemed academic networks is extraordinary.’

Andrew Nairne, Director, Kettle’s Yard says: ‘We are greatly looking forward to Habda Rashid joining our Senior Team at Kettle’s Yard, with particular responsibility for leading projects and programmes related to the collection and the Kettle’s Yard House.’

Luke Syson, Director and Marlay Curator, Fitzwilliam Museum, says: ‘The Fitzwilliam Museum is renowned for its British art, from Tudor miniature paintings to Thomas Gainsborough and Barbara Hepworth. We are now seeking to acquire and commission artworks that better reflect the diversity of British art in the 20th and 21st centuries, so we are very excited that Habda is joining us to lead our work in this area, whilst also working with colleagues in the Fitzwilliam and across the University to bring new perspectives to the existing collection.’