Misan Harriman to step down as Southbank Centre chair after free-speech row

Misan Harriman has confirmed he will stand down as chair of London's Southbank Centre in autumn 2026, drawing a planned close to a tenure that has become one of the most talked-about stories in British cultural life. Harriman, the first Black person to chair the arts institution, took up the role in 2021.

The photographer and filmmaker said the decision had been taken in January and was not a reaction to recent scrutiny of his social media activity. The announcement follows weeks of public argument over posts linked to the Golders Green attack, Reform UK and the wider question of how political the leaders of publicly funded cultural bodies should be.

A divisive tenure

Supporters including well-known artists, campaigners and broadcasters have defended Harriman, while critics argue the controversy damaged confidence in the institution. Earlier in the year a letter signed by figures such as Greta Thunberg and Hugh Bonneville backed him publicly.

The Southbank Centre said succession planning was already under way, with further updates expected after its annual general meeting in July.

What happens next

The case sits at the crossroads of governance, free expression, public funding and trust in arts leadership, and is likely to shape how the sector handles the political voices of those who run its institutions. Attention now turns to who the Southbank Centre chooses to take the role.