Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature refreshes board

Nottingham City of Literature has appointed Dr NICK OWEN as its new chair alongside new trustee CLARE HARVEY.

An East Midlands-based creative and entrepreneurial leader with more than 40 years of experience in the arts and cultural sector, Owen was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to arts-based businesses and is currently the chief executive of the Mighty Creatives.

Meanwhile, Harvey is a novelist and academic researcher with a background in freelance journalism, charity PR and teaching English, who was previously supported by City of Literature as an emerging author.

Joining the board, Harvey said she was “delighted to be in a position to pay it forward”.

Owen added that he was “honoured” to be “taking on the baton” of the leadership and wants to see the board make a “tangible difference” locally and internationally.

He replaces outgoing chair, PATRICK LIMB KC, who departs the Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation alongside vice-chair BARBARA CATHCART.

Limb said his tenure had been “variously challenging, enthusing and always interesting”.

“The mission remains the foundational one of building a better world with words,” Limb said.