Sector Leaders Back Revolutionary New Approach to Culture Sector Leadership Recruitment

Leading culture sector consultancy Achates has today announced the launch of its Recruitment Champions – a network of senior leaders backing their revolutionary approach to recruitment for new culture and heritage sector leadership.

Following sector feedback calling for a change to the Executive Search support that is available, Achates has partnered with a group of senior leaders to deliver a fresh approach focused on value from and for the sector. Centred on a deep knowledge of the nuances of leading in the culture sector, this is Executive Search for the culture sector, by the culture sector.

The group is made up of sector leaders representing the breadth of artforms who will share their expert advice, guidance and recommendations to the Achates team as they work with organisations across the culture and heritage sectors to place outstanding new leaders.

We’re delighted that Gavin Barlow and Annabel Turpin, Co‑Directors of Future Arts Centres, have been named among the first Champions, representing arts centres and multi‑artform organisations across the UK.

The Recruitment Champions announced today are:

· Gavin Barlow and Annabel Turpin (Co-Directors and Co-Founders, Future Arts Centres) representing arts centres and multi- artform organisations
· David Collins (Executive Director, Northern Ballet) representing dance
· Vicky Featherstone (Theatre Director and Leader) representing theatre
· Melanie Keen (Consultant, Advisor and Curator), representing the visual arts
· Sandeep Mahal (Deputy Executive Director, Royal Shakespeare Company) representing the literature sector
· Laura Pye (Director, National Museums Liverpool) representing museums and archives.

Further Champions will be announced in the coming months.

Gavin and Annabel said: “We are delighted to be working with Achates as part of their recruitment offer. We know that Achates really understands the sector and already offers high quality recruitment support. We believe we can bring our knowledge and experience to help enhance that offer in a way that really meets the needs of cultural organisations.”

Achates Executive Search (which supports the placement of new Chief Executives, Executive Directors, Artistic Directors, Chairs and Trustees) is grounded in a deep understanding of the challenges the sector is facing, the opportunities ahead, and critically the skills, experience, knowledge and expertise needed from its leaders. This is an approach grounded in accessibility, creativity and expertise. Achates works bespoke with each organisation to develop an approach which is firmly based in the strategic priorities and unique purpose of each organisation.

For More Information

Contact Vicki Grace, Director of Recruitment and Organisational Change at Achates, on vicki@achates.org.uk