Six new members have been appointed to the Arts Council of Wales.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) is the voice of the arts in Wales and uses public funds to create opportunities for people to enjoy and take part in the arts.
Funded largely by the Welsh Government – but also a National Lottery distributing body and a registered charity – ACW aims to encourage active participation in the arts, and for high-quality cultural experiences to be available to all people, irrespective of where they live or their background.
Council Members fulfil an important role in supporting a dynamic and creative arts sector. Collectively they are responsible for ensuring the effective and proper investment of Welsh Government and Lottery funding.
Council members are also responsible for:
- setting the strategic direction for the Arts Council
- developing, implementing and monitoring arts policy
- agreeing the Corporate and Operational Plans
- setting the annual budget
- annual allocation of grants to revenue funded organisations
- ensuring that the Arts Council manages its affairs effectively and accountable.
Ruth Fabby, Ceri Ll Davies, Keith Murrell, Elen ap Robert, Prue Thimbleby and Tafsila Khan will take up their positions on April 1, bringing the Board up to 18 members.
Keith Murrell is an experienced creative director / producer, notably with the Butetown Carnival, with an extensive background in the arts in Wales and in working with grass roots organisations and ethnically diverse communities.
Ruth Fabby MBE, DL, Director of Disability Arts Cymru has considerable experience of advocating and change-making in the field of disability & Deaf arts, alongside a clear understanding of the current challenges facing arts organisations in Wales.
Ceri Ll Davies has significant experience of arts education, Creative Learning and the use of technology in the arts, especially music. She also has a strong commitment to increasing access to the arts, as well as improving wellbeing through the arts and is a fluent Welsh speaker.
Elen ap Robert has been working in the arts for over thirty years, as a professional opera singer, music therapist, and more recently as the first Artistic Director of Pontio, Bangor University between 2012 and 2019. She has significant experience in governance and communications. She now works as an Arts Consultant, and has advised and reported on the development of Welsh language arts activity. She passionately believes in the power of the arts to transform all our lives.
Prue Thimbleby, an expert in digital storytelling, has considerable experience of working in arts and health where she has established an international profile for Welsh activity. She also has a thorough understanding of the equality agenda from a background in community development.
Tafsila Khan has a clear understanding of the drive towards establishing fairness of opportunity for all individuals in the arts in Wales, much of which is due to her own experiences within the arts and as a board member. She has particular expertise in the field of visual impairment awareness training.
Arts Council Wales, Chair, Phil George, said:
As a public body, Arts Council of Wales has a desire and responsibility to make arts experiences and opportunities available all across the diverse communities of Wales. Our new Council members have been chosen because they bring vision, lived experience, professional insights and powerful skills sets to help us make that ambition a reality.
I am excited by the contributions and challenges they will bring to the Council table.