Misan Harriman to Step Down as Southbank Centre Chair

Harriman Confirms Departure Was Pre-Planned

Misan Harriman has announced he will step down as chair of London's Southbank Centre after serving two terms, a decision he insists was made well before a recent media storm over his social media activity.

The photographer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker became a lightning rod for controversy after several outlets accused him of antisemitism over posts he made following the Golders Green attack in North London in April. In the posts, Harriman suggested that the first victim of the attack, who was Muslim, had received less media attention than the two Jewish victims. He has consistently rejected the characterisation of his remarks as antisemitic.

The row drew sharp divisions within the cultural sector. More than 30,000 people signed an online petition in his defence, with musicians Billy Bragg, Brian Eno, and Riz Ahmed among those lending their support. Critics argued that coverage by the Telegraph, The Times, MailOnline, and the Daily Express amounted to an orchestrated smear campaign. The UK's Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) has indicated the reporting "may raise a breach of the Editors' Code of Practice" and has given the newspapers 28 days to resolve the matter with Harriman before escalating the case to a complaints officer, according to Novara Media.

Timing Dismissed as Factor

In an Instagram video posted on 23 June, Harriman pushed back against any suggestion that his departure was connected to the public dispute. "It's semi-public knowledge that my term is coming to an end anyway," he said, adding that he had decided "way before this madness" to limit himself to two terms. He indicated that an announcement regarding exact dates and timelines would likely come in the autumn.

A spokesperson for the Southbank Centre confirmed that Harriman had informed the deputy chair in January that he would not seek a third term and would depart in autumn 2026. Succession planning is already in motion, with further details expected to follow the venue's annual general meeting in July.

Harriman declined to comment further when approached by The Art Newspaper, directing instead to an article in The New World published on 19 May that corroborates his account of a pre-planned exit.

A Prominent Figure in British Cultural Life

Harriman, who is British-Nigerian, is widely regarded as one of the most prominent Black cultural figures working in the United Kingdom today. He rose to prominence through his powerful photographs documenting the Black Lives Matter protests, and later the Palestine solidarity marches. A selection of these works is currently on display in London at Hope 93.

His departure from the Southbank Centre marks the end of a significant chapter for one of London's most high-profile arts institutions, as it begins the search for new leadership.