Business

Derry culture bid chair to head up Arts & Business NI

Joanne Stuart hands over the reigns of Arts & Business NI chair to Martin Bradley
Joanne Stuart hands over the reigns of Arts & Business NI chair to Martin Bradley Joanne Stuart hands over the reigns of Arts & Business NI chair to Martin Bradley

AFTER six years as chairman of Arts & Business NI, Joanne Stuart has handed over the reins to Martin Bradley, who has been a director on the board since 2015 and has extensive connections with the arts community and public and private sector.

A former mayor of Derry City Council, he chaired Culture Company 2013, the body responsible for the delivery of the first UK City of Culture in Derry/Londonderry.

Bradley is currently chairman of the Millennium Forum Theatre and Craft Northern Ireland as well as former chair of the Ormeau Baths Gallery Belfast and former vice-chair of the Arts Council for NI.

He was awarded an MBE in January 2008 for services to the arts in Northern Ireland. He is currently head of HSC Pension Service in Northern Ireland.

Mary Nagele, chief executive of Arts & Business NI, said: “We are thrilled that Martin Bradley will take over as our chair.

"With his impressive experience and network across the public and private sector, and his experience and passion for the arts, he will complement the current board. He is a powerful ambassador for A&B NI and for the power of the arts and creativity to transform people, companies and places.

"Martin is perfectly placed to lead us through the next phase of our growth and propel the organisation towards continued success.”

Joanne Stuart led the creative charity that brokers innovative partnerships between the arts and the private sector, through a period of change as they demerged from the UK to set up as an independent NI company in 2011.

Ms Nagele added: “Joanne has been an inspiring chairman, and has supported both me and the organisation over the last six years. Her vast experience, networks and confident direction have both guided and strengthened the organisation – we have grown our membership, raised our profile and developed and enhanced our brand.

"Now six years as an independent company, we are stronger and deeply rooted within the Northern Ireland cultural and private sector. Joanne has ensured we are well placed for the next exciting phase in our company’s history and development.”