Counterculture is delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Hyde as a Partner. With over 25 years of experience in the public-facing cultural sector, Steve was until 2022 the V&A’s Head of Estate, responsible for maintaining, conserving and developing the growing grade one listed estate, the world’s leading museum of art and design.
On taking up his new role as Partner, Steve says: “The Counterculture team bring unrivalled experience, innovation and vision to help the cultural sector meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. I believe passionately in the importance and power of museum estates to enrich the visitor experience as well as the wellbeing of staff, whilst supporting the incredibly important role that museums play particularly in the areas of conservation and research. I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue to advance this work through my new role at Counterculture.”
Welcoming Steve Hyde to the partnership, Counterculture President, Tom Watson, comments: “Steve has an incredible track record of innovative estate management in the UK’s cultural sector and I am delighted to be welcoming someone of his calibre and vison to the team. Steve’s appointment at Counterculture will undoubtedly prove to be a huge asset to many institutions across the sector.”
As the V&A’s Head of Estate, Steve has been Project Director on many significant capital estate legacy projects, leading design teams both internal and external. During this time, Steve has supported the expansion of the museum into Scotland (V&A Dundee), and the extension of the estate in South Kensington with the Exhibition Road Quarter providing new gallery spaces and facilities for the key flagship London site.
This period has also seen the development and evolving design and construction of two new, key facilities in East London – the new V&A East museum in the Olympic Park and the nearby Collection Research Centre. Steve has been at the forefront of the evolving estate operational plan on these projects to ensure the new facilities provide the very best experience for the needs of the 21st Century. Young V&A (formerly Museum of Childhood) in Bethnal Green has also benefited from Steve’s vision and direction, and is another site for which he has contributed.
Prior to the V&A Steve was Director of Operations at Sadlers Wells Theatre and before that Head of Facilities & Operations at Vinopolis – City of Wine, proceeded by Head of Technical Services (London) for the Tussauds’ Group.