12th December 2019
Manchester International Festival (MIF) has announced that JANE BEESE will become its new Head of Music, as the organisation builds its team in preparation for the opening of The Factory. The new arts venue being built in Manchester will be MIF’s permanent home. Currently Head of Music at the Roundhouse and previously Head of Contemporary Music at the Southbank Centre, she will work with external companies and The Factory’s...
Creative company Improbable has announced that NICK SWEETING will be stepping down from his role as Senior Producer in Spring 2020. Co-founder of the organisation with JULIAN CROUCH, PHELIM McDERMOTT and LEE SIMPSON in 1996, he has been the company’s producer ever since. He is leaving to pursue other projects, including ongoing work with artist, theatre maker and activist ...
MICHAEL BEDINGFIELD has been appointed as chair of the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust, which will take over the management of Brighton’s museums service on a 25-year contract from April next year. A local resident and former CEO of Tourism South East, Bedingfield has served as trustee and chair of the fundraising committee for the National Museum of the Royal Navy and on the Royal Pavilion & Museums shadow board. The new...
BBC World Service Commissioning Editor SIMON PITTS is the new Chair of the board of dance company Protein. The company is also welcoming two new board members, marketer SAGAR SHAH from London’s Southbank Centre and former Arts Council England Senior Policy and Planning Officer LORRAINE COX.
6th December 2019
Chief Executive MICHAEL DUGHER is leaving industry body UK Music after nearly three years in the role to become CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council. The former Shadow Secretary of State for DCMS and Labour MP for Barnsely East was instrumental in UK Music's campaigns for changes to planning laws that benefit grassroots venues, won protections for musicians under the EU Copyright Directive and improved the "understanding of Ministers and...
KAREN SIMPSON, CEO and Artistic Director at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, will be leaving in February after six-and-a-half years in post. Living with an incurable cancer diagnosis for the past two-and-a-half years, she now wants to spend more time with family and friends. Under her leadership the theatre has reconnected with the local community and introduced a new business model. She has paid tribute to the “overwhelming”...
PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER BREWARD has been appointed to the top role at National Museums Scotland, succeeding Gordon Rintoul, who steps down in March. Breward is currently Director of Collection and Research at the National Galleries of Scotland, where he is responsible for the development, interpretation, research and display of...
The Royal Northern College of Music has appointed GEORGE WHALLEY as Director of Finance, with responsibility for the College’s financial strategy. His role will include overseeing the Finance and Registry Departments and the Business Systems Development Unit. Previously Director of Finance and Operations at HOME, Manchester’s centre for contemporary arts, and prior to that Head of Finance at The University of Manchester’s Alliance...
The School of Art & Design at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, which leads Teesside University’s Fine Art provision and Design courses, has appointed curator SARAH PERKS and artist MIKHAIL KARIKIS to professorial roles. Karikis brings expertise in art and architecture, social justice, politics and socially engaged arts, while Perks’ specialisms lie in participation, performance, moving image and the...
PROFESSOR PETER TOYNE CBE and DUNCAN SUTHERLAND have joined the Board of Trustees.at Southbank Sinfonia and will share the role of chairman. Toyne, who takes responsibility for matters relating to Governance and Performance, was most recently Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University and Sutherland and chaired the City of Liverpool’s successful bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2008. Sutherland...