⁠New director appointed at Culture Derby

ALIX MANNING-JONES has been named the director at Culture Derby, a strategic development agency funded by Arts Council England and Derby City Council.

Most recently, Manning-Jones has worked at Derby City Council, leading the city’s family hubs programme. She started her career at the Royal Shakespeare Company and has worked in theatres across the country, delivering and producing festival projects.

In 2016, she was appointed as Derby’s cultural education producer and then as Derby’s opportunity area programme manager, co-producing the This is Derby celebration in 2018.

Manning-Jones, who will take up her post at the beginning of April, said: “Culture Derby will create a vibrant city centre, with culture at the heart. We know that the arts are struggling nationally and locally, and it’s important that we support the cultural sector by maintaining their presence through Culture Derby.

“I’m committed to delivering high-quality, accessible, and enjoyable experiences for everyone who wants to celebrate our city. This is a shared vision, and we’ll be working closely with our communities, partners, and businesses.”

REBECCA BLACKMAN, ACE’s director of engagement and communities and area director for the Midlands, said Manning-Jones brought a wealth of experience across the cultural sector, local government and local communities in Derby.

“Culture Derby is an important new strategic development for Derby, and Alix’s extensive experience in creating collaborative partnerships across culture, education, health, business, and the voluntary sector will be a great benefit to Culture Derby,” said Blackman.

TONY BUTLER, executive director for Derby Museums, who was on the interview panel, added: “I want to see culture permeate every area of public policy within our city, from public health to social care, from the environment and net zero to education and skills.

“Alix’s great experience in working in the front line and strategically developing cultural programmes in Derby means the cultural sector will be more allied and be able to respond to the needs of the city. She will be a fantastic advocate and connector for culture.”