Changing faces of arts
There are many familiar faces from the arts and culture world absent from this year's edition of the Most Influential 500.
IF THE next 12 months looks set to be a period of cost-cutting and consolidation for the North East arts scene as budgets everywhere are squeezed, the last year or so will be remembered as one of change at the top of many of our leading cultural organisations.
Since the last edition of the Most Influential 500, in August 2009, no fewer than four of the most senior arts leaders in the region have left their posts, all of them having played a significant contribution to the region’s cultural regeneration over recent years.
A shake-up at Arts Council England led to the departure of its North East executive director Mark Robinson and the creation of a “super region” for the whole of the North under the leadership of former Scottish Arts Council boss Jim Tough. He makes our Most Influential 500 this year, along with Alison Clark- Jenkins, who was appointed as regional director for the North East.
Crossing the border in the opposite direction to Mr Tough was Andrew Dixon, the NewcastleGateshead Initiative chief executive who brought down the curtain on his long and successful association with the North East earlier this year.
Mr Dixon, now chief executive of the new Creative Scotland organisation, was one of the region’s champions of the arts and his outstanding contribution to the sector was recognised with the honour of a Hotspur Award from the Northumbrian Association.
Another figurehead of the North East cultural scene, Tyne and Wear Museums boss Alec Coles, also departed the region to become director of the Western Australian Museum in Perth. During 20 years at Tyne and Wear museums, he played an enormous part in developing some of the region’s best-loved museums, not least the Great North Museum: Hancock which recently celebrated its one millionth visitor since its reopening. His contribution to the region was recognised when he was made an OBE in June, along with Customs House director Ray Spencer who was made an MBE. Mr Coles has been succeeded by Iain Watson, who is currently filling the post on an acting basis.
Also on the move was former Culture10 director Stella Hall following the decision to wind up that organisation. She moved to Lancashire to become director of the Preston Guild.
Elsewhere, whilst concern grows over how public sector funding cuts will impact on the region’s cultural scene, there is still plenty to be positive about.
The 2010 Culture Awards recognised the achievements of some of the region’s outstanding performers, from established stars such as Kathryn Tickell, to up-and-coming performers including South Shields comedian Sarah Millican, whose Edinburgh Festival show was shortlisted for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for best show.
Major events during the last 12 months included the award-winning illumination of the length of Hadrian’s Wall and the Tall Ships Festival, which brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to Hartlepool this summer.
And a new star was born in the shape of South Shields singer Joe McElderry who swept to victory on hit ITV show The X-Factor and has recently released his debut album.
The Baltic, meanwhile, was boosted by the news that it has been selected to host the prestigious Turner Prize for 2011, the first time the award has not been held at a Tate museum. There was disappointment for Durham, however, when it missed out on being named City of Culture 2013.
