Dorset Museum has welcomed a new chairman of trustees and interim director.

The Dorset and Natural History and Archaeological Society's (DNHAS) board of trustees has appointed Elizabeth Selby as the interim director of Dorset museum flowing the departure of former executive director Jon Murden. She will work alongside newly appointed chairman of DNHAS, Jean Lang, and commercial director Roger Maughan.

Elizabeth joined Dorset Museum in May 2016, initially planning and developing four new permanent exhibition galleries as part of the museum's £16.4 million redevelopment. In October 2018, Elizabeth became director of collections and public engagement, and when the museum reopened in May 2021, she led the curatorial, learning and community engagement programme.

Elizabeth said: "I am thrilled to take on the role of interim director to lead the museum on the next stage of its journey following reopening in May 2021.

"Since 2016, I have grown to love the museum and its collections and the potential they offer for engagement and learning. There is so much more the museum can achieve in the future now we have the incredible facilities created by the project in place.

"I am excited to lead the wonderful team here, working alongside and in consultation with our local communities, to ensure that the museum fulfils its full potential and remains a sustainable organisation in the face of the continued challenges presented by Covid-19."

Prior to her time at Dorset Museum, Elizabeth was a curator at the Jewish Museum London for 10 years, where she worked on the museum's redevelopment between 2006 and 2021 and curated a number of successful temporary exhibitions. She has also worked at the Imperial War Museum London and King's College London Archives.

Elizabeth will work alongside commercial director Roger Maughan and newly appointed chairman of DNHAS, Jean Lang.

Jean said: "I, like Elizabeth, am thrilled to be involved as we take the museum forward after its wonderful re-emergence.

"I have been a member of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for over 30 years and to be working with Elizabeth, the staff and trustees at this time is very exciting.

"We have wonderful permanent exhibitions and the opportunity for regular changing ones. We have challenges ahead as we move from a capital project to re-establishing ourselves both as a museum for everyone and a centre for research and curated collections, but with Elizabeth at the helm and the support of our many members and friends, I am sure we will achieve this."

Following its reopening, Dorset Museum was shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Small Family Friendly Museum Award, and was awarded the accolade of 'Best Told Story' from Visit England, given to attractions that tell their story in a memorable and creative way.

The museum continues to develop its programme of special exhibitions. Scene through Wood: A Century of Wood Engraving a touring exhibition, has recently opened and a major exhibition on Thomas Hardy across all four Wessex Museums Partnership museums - Dorset, Salisbury, Wiltshire and Poole - opens at the end of May. Dorset Museum also continues to work on a number of community projects, most recently My Creative Life, delivered in partnership with the Arts Development Company.

The museum is continuing to relocate collections to its new Collections Discovery Centre, offering opportunities for visitors to see behind the scenes, access collections and undertake research. Its venue hire also continues to grow, with a number of concerts, conferences, lecturers and weddings already booked over the next two years.

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