Media veteran Dawn Airey has been appointed chair of Arts Council England (Ace), and immediately identified artificial intelligence as a key challenge facing the sector.
Airey, whose career includes top roles at ITV, Channel 5, and Sky, will replace Sir Nicholas Serota, whose tenure coincided with one of the most challenging periods for the arts in recent memory.
Airey's Vision for the Arts
"The importance of the Arts Council in championing art and culture has never been more needed because the sector has never been more vital to our nation," said Airey, who has also held positions at Yahoo, Getty Images, and the Women's Super League. "In a world where AI, technology, and automation are increasingly dominant, human connection, experience, imagination, and creativity are the things that bring us together. They are the quintessential elements of a creative life and of a life well lived."
Addressing Criticism and Rebuilding Trust
Ace has faced criticism in recent months, with Labour peer Margaret Hodge warning that the organisation must ensure funding is protected from politicisation and simplify its application process to regain trust. Her independent review, published last December, found a "loss of respect and trust" for Ace among those it supported, partly due to "perceived political interference in decision-making." In March, she called for a "radical" overhaul of the organisation to better respond to challenges facing the culture sector.
Addressing these concerns on Tuesday, Airey said: "The Arts Council has a clear new mandate, informed by the recent independent review – to do more to support, nurture, and protect the arts, and to do so transparently, with speed, and with a fairer distribution of spend."
She described the appointment as an honour and expressed hope to "champion artistic excellence and experience for all, wherever you live, whatever you do."
Government and Outgoing Chair Recognised
Announcing the appointment, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Airey was taking on the role at an "incredibly important time" for the arts. She highlighted Airey's experience "across broadcasting, theatre, and the wider arts," adding that she offers a "passion for what the arts can do for this country and all the people in it. I have no doubt that she will insist on pressing ahead with long overdue action to put people back at the centre of their own national story."
Nandy thanked outgoing chair Serota for his "tireless dedication to the arts and to artists." She noted: "His tenure as chair was during perhaps the most challenging time for the arts, encompassing funding cuts, a global pandemic, Brexit negotiations, and the downgrading of arts on the national curriculum. Throughout all of this he has been a calm, passionate, and reassuring presence and a steadfast champion for access to great art. We owe him our gratitude."
Airey is set to begin her four-year tenure on 1 August. Serota served nearly a decade as chair of Ace, having initially been appointed for four years in February 2017. The position is remunerated at £60,000 per annum for a time commitment of two days per week.
