Abigail Pogson

Abigail Pogson is a British arts executive who was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Barbican Centre in September 2025, taking up the role in January 2026. She previously served as Chief Executive of The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (formerly Sage Gateshead) for a decade from 2015 to 2025.

Early life and education Pogson was born and grew up in Yorkshire. She studied Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge and subsequently completed an MA in Cultural Management at City, University of London.

Sage Gateshead and The Glasshouse Pogson was appointed managing director of Sage Gateshead in 2015, succeeding Anthony Sargent CBE after a phased handover.

In 2023, under Pogson's leadership, Sage Gateshead was rebranded as The Glasshouse International Centre for Music following the announcement that a neighbouring arena would take the Sage name. The rebrand involved extensive public consultation, with the new name referencing the venue's distinctive architecture featuring 630 panes of glass.

During her decade at the organisation, The Glasshouse contributed an estimated £1 billion to the local economy and opened music education opportunities to 1.8 million young people.

Barbican Centre In September 2025, following an international recruitment process, Pogson was appointed chief executive officer of the Barbican Centre, Europe's largest arts complex. She served as a trustee for V&A Dundee and as Chair of Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust. and vice-president of the European Concert Hall Organisation. l