Creative Lives policy director departs after 12 years to focus on writing and family

JEMMA NEVILLE has announced she is leaving her role as policy director with Creative Lives in December, having been with the organisation that advocates for community and volunteer-led creative activity across the UK and Ireland since 2013.

Her departure comes as chief executive ROBIN SIMPSON announces plans to retire in 2026 after 20 years.

Joining Creative Lives – formerly Voluntary Arts – 12 years ago, Neville headed up the organisation’s work in Scotland, before taking the lead on policy and influencing work across the UK and Ireland in 2023.

The organisation said that her “deeply insightful and thoughtful approach” and “exceptional leadership” had been of “immense benefit” and that she will be “greatly missed”.

Current Creative Lives place director, JESS PLANT, who has been with the organisation since 2020, will now move to an expanded full-time role as policy director.

Writing on LinkedIn, Neville said that following her departure, she intends to research and write a new book while a creative writing fellow at the Binks Hub, Edinburgh Futures Institute.

She added that she also planned to “parent differently” and is looking forward to a family-friendly arts residency at Maison Marcelle in France in the Spring.

Neville said that during her time with Creative Lives, “in a variety of roles, part-time since 2022, and through a sabbatical, maternity and bereavement periods,” she had “learnt so much”.

“The organisation is almost unrecognisable from when I first joined – the name change, restructuring, greater mutuality across five nations, secure core funding, an understanding of ‘everyday creativity’ now within the strategies of all of the arts councils – and I’m proud to have played a part in that,” she said.

“The quiet dignity of bearing witness to creative expression in homes, libraries, parks, schools and streets has never been more needed or resolute in collective endeavour.”