Association for Cultural Enterprises appoints new Chair

MELANIE LEWIS will join the Association for Cultural Enterprises in March as Chair.

She takes over from CAROLINE BROWN, who has served for eight years as Chair at the Investment Principles Support Organisation.

Since September 2021, Lewis has been Chief Executive of Shakespeare North Playhouse and a member of the newly formed Liverpool City Region Business and Enterprise Board. She was previously Executive Director at National Museums Liverpool and also held senior roles with Everton Football Club and Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

GORDON MORRISON, CEO of Cultural Enterprises, commented, “I am delighted that the Association has secured Melanie as our new Chair. As well as bringing a wealth of experience to the role, Melanie has an acute understanding of the challenges facing the sector, and we have a shared vision of how Cultural Enterprises will utilise its expertise, knowledge, insights and influence to support the sector to not just survive, but to thrive in the face of challenging conditions.”

Lewis added: “The Association for Cultural Enterprises is an important organisation within our sector and plays a vital role delivering best practice, innovation and collaboration opportunities for our members.

"The role of the Association is more important now than ever and so I’m excited to support Gordon and the team to achieve its ambitious plans. I’m thrilled to be the next Chair – it is an organisation that has supported me throughout my career and so I’m keen to give back."