New Appointments To The Arts Council Of Wales

Economy and Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates, has today announced the appointment of two new members to the Arts Council of Wales. (ACW). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new members are Andy Eagle and Iwan Bala and they will commence in post on 1 November 2016, with each appointment initially lasting for three years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

ACW members are responsible for setting the aims and objectives of the Arts Council for Wales and for ensuring that these are aligned to the Welsh Government’s strategic priorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Their roles, which are voluntary and unpaid, include ensuring that both Welsh Government and National Lottery funding is invested effectively across Wales to support the Arts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These two new members are the first to be appointed since Dr Phil George joined the Council as Chair in April 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Their selection followed a rigorous recruitment process which sought to find six highly motivated, committed and dynamic new members to sit on the Council. The remaining four positions, which could not be appropriately filled during this recent appointment exercise, will now be re-advertised during November 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welcoming the new members, Economy and Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates, who is also responsible for Culture and the Arts in Wales said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Eagle and Iwan Bala to the Council. Each has enormous personal and professional experience of the arts and I’m sure their individual skills, knowledge and expertise will add significantly to the current strengths of the Council and assist ACW through the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Phil George, Chair of ACW added Phil George, Chair of Arts Council of Wales said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m delighted to welcome two new members whose expertise and passionate enthusiasm so impressed in their application and at interview. Their particular skills and deep experience will help us to achieve the aim of Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Government that all communities in Wales are able to benefit from and have access to high quality arts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We look forward to greeting them as Council Members at our Council meeting in December.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Andy Eagle is the Chief Executive of Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff. He brings a wealth of arts management experience from his 25 year career in the arts where he has held key roles in local authority and venue management. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Iwan Bala is a renowned visual arts practitioner, writer and lecturer and an acknowledged expert in the contemporary arts in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​