Performing arts leaders departing roles at highest rate since 2018

At least 44 leaders within the performing arts sector moved on from their roles last year, the highest number since 2018, analysis by Arts Professional has found.

Following on from an investigation published in July last year, updated full year figures for 2024 bring the combined total of performing arts leaders to have moved on from their roles in the last six calendar years to 241.

The 44 departures in 2024, based on public announcements about artistic and executive leaders’ career movements, represents the highest level of departures since 2018, when 51 people moved on from their posts.

Analysis of the amount of time spent in post indicates a downward trend.

Leaders whose departures were announced in 2018 spent on average (mean) 10.8 years in post, with 10 individuals serving over 20 years.

For those whose departures were announced in 2024, the average time in post was 9.3 years, with four of those stepping down after more than two decades in post.

The figures comprise artistic directors, chief executives, executive directors, and CEOs of professional performing arts organisations, including, but not limited to, producing theatres, opera and dance companies, and touring organisations. The duration of the post has been rounded to the nearest whole year at the time of announcement.

Artistic leaders in 2018 were found to have spent the longest time in post, averaging 12.3 years, down to 9.2 in 2024.

Meanwhile, the average tenure of executive (non-artistic) leaders has fluctuated more over the past six years. In 2018, those leaving their roles did so on average after 8.1 years, rising to 12 years in 2020 before a low of 6.7 in 2023.

While reasons for departure are not always made public, where they were, they included moving to a new organisation, retirement, seeking a better work-life balance and going freelance.

Concerns have previously been raised about an "exodus of artistic leaders" due to increasing pressure from public funding cuts by arts councils and local authorities as well as rising overhead costs for utilities.