We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Chair of the Board of Trustees, Jonty Claypole – Director of Arts at the BBC, and new Trustees Maria Bota, Creative Producer for the biennial IF: Milton Keynes International Arts Festival, and Alison Ross, Customer Experience & Operations Director at Auto Trader.
Our outgoing Chair, Jim Forrester, steps down this month, having helped to bring our lovely new venue to life. He joined our Board in 2012, and, together with our Trustees, has led HOME through the successful development of a new building and the merger of our two founding companies, Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company.
Jim said “As Chair of Trustees over the last few years, I am delighted that we have been able to create a superb new cross-art venue for the city-region and to settle the combined teams from Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company into their new base. HOME is now open and flourishing, and it has been a pleasure to see how audiences, artists, staff and sponsors have reacted to the programme of new theatre, exhibitions and films. I am particularly proud of the engagement work we do that gives talented young people from the region the opportunity to develop their skills and experience. As HOME enters its next exciting phase, I wish the staff team and the Board all the very best for a rich, varied and stimulating future.”
Our Director and CEO, Dave Moutrey, added: “HOME and I owe Jim a great debt of gratitude for his tireless work and commitment. He has been a great friend of the organisation, and his leadership and counsel have been crucial in the creation of the new building and organisation. We wish him success for the future. We would also like to thank our outgoing Board Members Philip Shapiro, Penny Early, Jim Chapman, John Hampton, Andrew Simcock and Dr Andy Willis for their valuable contributions to the ongoing success of the organisation.”
Jonty Claypole is Director of Arts at the BBC, working across television, radio and online to ensure the organisation succeeds in its mission to increase access and participation in the arts throughout the UK.
Jonty said “The opening of HOME earlier this year was just the latest chapter in the extraordinary success story of Greater Manchester. With a fabulous new building and world-class programming team, HOME is already much loved by local audiences and firmly established on the cultural map of the UK. I am honoured to take on the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees. For me, this is a unique opportunity to work closer with the broader arts sector and share insight about how artists and arts organisations throughout the UK can work together, take risks and continue to build Britain’s reputation as the best place in the world for art and culture.”
Maria Bota currently as an arts consultant works and Creative Producer for the biennial IF: Milton Keynes International Arts Festival.
Maria commented “I am thrilled to be joining HOME as the talented team build upon their enormously successful opening and explore the potential of the three art forms of theatre, visual arts and film in one setting. Excellent governance is crucial in enabling brilliant organisations to thrive and I appreciate the opportunity to add my value as a trustee to the continuing vital development of this exciting project in the city I have chosen to call home.”
Alison Ross is a member of the senior leadership team at Auto Trader. With 20 years’ experience in technology, Alison now shares responsibility for a cross functional team bringing together technology, operations, service and sales expertise. She also serves on both the board and elected council of Manchester Digital, the independent trade association for the thriving digital sector in the North West of England.
On her appointment, Alison said “I’m privileged to become a Trustee at such an exciting time as HOME seeks to develop its audience while occupying a unique and vital place in Manchester’s vibrant cultural scene. Manchester is leading the way in forging links between business and the arts and the success of HOME as a catalyst for the regeneration of an underused area of the city highlights how important and productive such partnerships can be.”
Want to know who else is on our board? Take a look here.