City Council creates stronger cultural connection with Arts Council England
Councillor Thérèse Evans from Winchester City Council has been recruited to join the South East Regional Arts Council, representing all local authorities across the South East.
Following a rigorous interview selection process, Cllr Evans has been chosen as one of the local authority Members on the Regional Arts Council.
Winchester City Council’s Cllr Evans commented:
I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work on the South East Regional Arts Council. Having just completed a double term of six years on the Board of Tourism South East, another key cultural organisation in the region, I am ready for another challenge. I look forward to an exciting year in the arts, crowned by celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Cllr Evans was the 802nd Mayor of Winchester from 2001 to 2002, Deputy Leader of the Council for five years and has held the portfolio and shadow portfolio for Culture, Heritage and Sport for eight years. She represents the Wickham ward and is the lead Liberal Democrat Member for rural affairs.
Sally Abbott, Regional Director, Arts Council England said:
South East Regional Arts Council members play a vital part in the governance of our organisation. Each one of them brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table and plays a vital part in ensuring the Arts Council is delivering to the best of our ability on our strategy of Achieving great art for everyone and in meeting our goals and priorities.”
Arts Council England is the national development body for the arts, and in the South East will fund 66 National Portfolio Organisations between 2012 and 2015, plus support individual projects across England via Grants for the Arts. The organisation is one of the funders of the Cultural Olympiad, and last year also launched a £440m strategic funding programme and an exciting new multi-media digital platform with the BBC called The Space. Since 2011 they have also held a developmental role with libraries and a funding role for museums.
Winchester City Council officers and Members routinely seek to make a contribution to the cultural sector in the region, with Chief Executive Simon Eden heading up the South East Cultural Improvement Forum and also chairing the Quality Places Delivery Panel for the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire.
Eloise Appleby, Assistant Director (Economic Prosperity) for the Council said:
The arts, heritage and tourism industries are important contributors to the economy in the Winchester District, as well as brightening the lives of residents every day of the year. The exciting national opportunities of 2012 provide a platform to showcase the talents and creativity of the many organisations based in this very special District. “
More information about Winchester’s 2012 events can be found at www.winchester2012.co.uk/