Storyhouse is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chair of its Board of Trustees.
David Watson was formally appointed to the role on Friday when the current Chair Peter Mearns stepped down after 11 years on the Board.
David is currently the Executive Director of Audience and Media at National Museums Liverpool where his responsibilities include leading a talented team across exhibitions, digital, marketing and brand, fundraising, PR and communications, strategic and creative partnerships, and audience insight.
He is also founder and creative director of The Great British Gala, creative director of MikMen and a trustee of One Dance UK, the national body for dance, while previous roles include Head of Digital for Hull City of Culture 2017 and Director of Brand and Advocacy for Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The Board of Trustees provides governance and leadership, overseeing the strategic direction of the organisation in line with its charitable objectives and the law.
Storyhouse’s Trustees come from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds and have professional or lived experience which they bring to the role.
In addition to David Watson, Storyhouse is welcoming five further Trustees to the Board to serve initial three-year terms.
They are
Meanwhile, along with Peter Mearns, who became Chair in 2018 after three years as Deputy Chair, three long-standing Trustees – former Chair Geoff Clinton, most recent Vice-Chair Sue Leech and Emeritus Professor Allan Owens have also stepped down from the Board this autumn.
Storyhouse chief executive Andrew Bentley said:
I want to welcome David Watson to the Storyhouse family – he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and ideas which have been developed over many years working within the cultural sector, and I know he will be a brilliant new addition chairing the Board of Trustees as we move forward.
Trustees play a vital role in our organisation in helping to shape its direction and ethos, and we’re very lucky to have a fantastic range of committed people on our Board.
But while we welcome David and our other new Trustees, I also want to take a minute to thank the Board’s outgoing chair Peter Mearns and our retiring Trustees, Geoff, Sue and Allan, for all their dedication, hard work and clear guidance over many years, some of them long before Storyhouse the building was planned, let alone opened.
I’m truly delighted and honoured to be taking over the role of Chair of Storyhouse.
Storyhouse plays an important part of cultural life in Chester and continues to be a beacon of inspiration for many other cities and towns for the role it has played in social and economic regeneration, its hugely successful and unique integration of world-class theatre, cinema and library facilities as well as its bold, exciting, diverse, and award-winning programming.
Peter Mearns has a great legacy with Storyhouse, and he’s been a truly fantastic Chair, and former Trustee, guiding Storyhouse through its renaissance having realised its ambition for a new building and facilities, as well as navigating one of the most challenging times we’ve ever experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He leaves Storyhouse in great shape financially and creatively and providing excellent foundations for us to build on.
I’m looking forward to working with the Board and the leadership team as well as connecting with audiences, local businesses, sponsors, partners, and funders as we look to the future of Storyhouse.
Find out more here.
ENDS
For more information, contact:
Nancy Davies
Marketing and PR Manager
Storyhouse
07886 743531
About David Watson
David Watson is Executive Director of Audiences & Media at National Museums Liverpool and is responsible for exhibitions, marketing and brand, digital, communications, fundraising, audience insights, strategic and creative partnerships and creative studios (design and production) for the group which comprises of seven world-class museums and galleries.
He is the Founder & Creative Director of MlkMen, The Great British Gala and Culture Couch.
David previously worked as a consultant for the arts, culture and entertainment sectors developing and leading artistic, brand, marketing, technology and digital innovation programmes. Prior to this he was Director of Brand & Advocacy for Birmingham Royal Ballet where he oversaw sales, marketing, digital and communications. He was Head of Digital / Digital Editor-in-Chief for Hull UK City of Culture 2017 where he was responsible for developing a first of its kind citywide integrated ticketing platform alongside overseeing the successful implementation of creative campaigns, content production and artistic digital innovation initiatives. He has previously worked in similar roles for organisations including English National Ballet, London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Royal Opera House and Rambert Dance Company.
David is currently a trustee for One Dance UK (the national body for dance), and previously a trustee for Hull based gig-theatre company Middle Child Theatre, Dance Umbrella and Islington Arts Factory.
Prior to establishing a successful career in his current field of work, David received professional dance training from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and went on to perform around the UK and overseas as well as choreograph for stage and screen.
About Storyhouse
Storyhouse is one of the UK’s foremost cultural centres incorporating a library, theatres and a cinema. It is one of the country’s most successful arts buildings, with more than one million customer visits each year.
The pioneering new library within Storyhouse, where members of the community work alongside city librarians, boasts the longest opening hours of any UK public library and is open every day until 11pm. It runs over 2,000 sessions a year for marginalised communities
The company also runs a highly successful theatre company and the country’s most successful regional open-air theatre, in the city’s Grosvenor Park and Moonlight Flicks open air cinema.
Storyhouse currently holds the official title as the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre and was the overall national winner in the 2018 Guardian Public Service Awards