Arts leaders celebrated in King’s Birthday Honours

More than 60 arts professionals have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Among the highest accolades were knighthoods for choreographer Wayne McGregor, composer and conductor John Rutter and Roger Wright, Chief Executive of Britten Pears Arts. Artist Tracey Emin, philanthropist Hannah Rothschild and actress Imelda Staunton all became Dames. 

Meanwhile, Dame Jenny Abramsky, a philanthropist and former Director of Audio and Music at the BBC, was elevated to Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for her services to arts, media and culture.

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McGregor is Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor and has been Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet since 2006. His award was celebrated by the Royal Ballet’s Director, Kevin O’Hare, who said McGregor’s “collaborative dialogue with artistic, scientific and technological disciplines puts him at the vanguard of contemporary arts”.

“I am very honoured to be offered a knighthood and grateful to all of the incredible people who have nurtured me for over 33 years in the art form I love – dance,” McGregor added. “Recognising that the arts matter, this honour reminds us that every young person given access to culture and creative expression has the opportunity to fly.” 

‘Truly honoured’

Dawn Airey, Chair of the National Youth Theatre, and theatre producer Nica Burns are among those to receive CBEs, alongside Royal College of Art Vice-Chancellor Paul Thompson.

Emma Dagnes, CEO of Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, also received a CBE in recognition of her services to heritage.

The charity’s Chair, Emine Ibrahim, says Dagnes has brought energy, imagination and dedication to all she has undertaken since starting at the organisation 14 years ago.

“From leading on the major restoration of our lost Victorian theatre to growing our entertainment, wellbeing and creative learning programme, reaching new audiences and beneficiaries. Through her leadership the charity has gone from strength to strength,” Ibrahim said.

Dagnes said she is truly honoured to have received the award. “Heritage is much more than just physical structures. It is about the people and the stories that inhabit these spaces and the inspiration and sense of community that they bring to people’s lives. Ally Pally is one of the nation’s great success stories in this respect,” she said.

‘Great recognition’

Among the recipients of an OBE are Science and Industry Museum Director Sally MacDonald, National Theatre of Scotland Chair Jane Spiers and Chief Executive Officer of Newcastle Theatre Royal Trust Philip Bernays.

“It’s a great recognition of the wonderful work of everyone at the museum and all our partners across the city and beyond,” MacDonald said. “We are all passionate about the role that museums and heritage can play in inspiring the next generation of innovators and creating opportunities for young people to realise the future ideas that will change the world.”

Arts leaders receiving MBEs included founder of Deafinitely Theatre Paula Garfield, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Theatrical Fund Sharon Lomas and Chair of the Association of English Singers and Speakers Sarah Leonard.

Dale Rooks, Director of Learning, Education and Participation at Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT), was also awarded an MBE for services to theatre and young people.

CFT’s Artistic Director Justin Audibert and Executive Director Kathy Bourne said Rooks is “beloved and revered by the thousands of youth theatre members who have experienced the life-enhancing – and in many cases, life-changing – work she has led”. 

“We know that they will all be as happy and proud as we are to celebrate this wonderful honour with her,” the pair added.

Full list

See below for a full list of award winners cited for their service across the arts. The full list of 2024 honours can be found here.

Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) 

Dame Jennifer Abramsky, for services to arts, to media and to culture

Dames and Knighthoods

Tracey Emin, for services to art
Hannah Rothschild, for services to philanthropy in the arts, culture and charity sectors
Imelda Staunton, for services to drama and to charity
Wayne McGregor, for services to dance
John Rutter, for services to music
Roger Wright, for services to music

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Dawn Elizabeth Airey, for services to theatre and to charity
Nica Burns, for services to theatre
Armando Giovanni Iannucci, for services to film and television
Alex Michael Jennings, for services to drama
Dr Alexander John Sturgis, for services to culture
Dr Paul Warwick Thompson, for services to the arts
Matthew Crispin Hurst Westerman, for services to museums and to cultural heritage
Alan Yentob, for services to the arts and media

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Professor Tracy Joanne Borman, for services to heritage
John Myles Milton Bright, for services to costume design and to heritage
Emma Louise Dagnes, for services to heritage
Emyr Afan Davies, for services to media and to music in Wales
Charles Michael Holloway, for services to charitable fundraising in the arts
Philip Bernays, for services to drama
Sally MacDonald, for services to the arts and to heritage
Nicholas Poole, for services to libraries, to the arts and to museums
Jane Wyman Spiers, for services to culture in Scotland
Phil Manzanera, for services to music

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Duncan Ademola Beckley, for services to music
Pauline Alison Watson Burt, for services to film
Rebecca Caroline Ferguson, for services to the music industry
Paula Garfield, for services to drama and to the deaf community
Dr Shobna Gulati, for services to the cultural industries
Sarah Hosking, for services to literature and to the arts
Simon John Charles Le Bon, for services to music and to charity
Sarah Jane Leonard, for services to music
Andrew Logan, for services to the arts
Sharon Lomas, for services to the performing arts
Gordon Mac, for services to music
Glenn McIntosh Munro, for services to music
John Richmond Grey Murray, for services to philanthropy and volunteering in the arts and culture sectors
Virginia Gwendoline Murray, for services to philanthropy and volunteering in the arts and culture sectors
Dale Christine Rooks, for services to theatre and to young people
David Anthony Seers, for services to culture, history and the arts of Scotland
Kiran Jethalal Shah, for services to the film industry
Bernadette Shiels, for services to the arts in Northern Ireland
Helen Whittaker, for services to the creation and conservation of stained and architectural glass art

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Ellen Laura Barnett, for services to music and to the community in Craigavon
Eric John Champion, for services to the Riverside Arts Centre and to culture in Spelthorne, Surrey
Andrea Claire Ellison, for services to libraries
Sheelagh Elizabeth Greer, for services to music in Northern Ireland
Susan Jane Hunt, for services to the arts and crafts
Jill Margaret Hyde, for services to music in Liverpool, Merseyside
Dr Michael Adair Ievers, for services to drama in Northern Ireland
Dr Jonathan Paul James, for services to music
Supriya Nagarajan, for services to music
Deborah Ann Roberts, for charitable services to the community in Brighton, Sussex and the South East
Margaret Fiona Shaw, for services to music and fundraising on the Isle of Bute
Timothy Richard Smith, for services to music and to education
Shirley Rowena Snowden, for services to dance and to the arts
Isabella McNeill Howie Thomson, for services to community theatre in East Lothian, Scotland
Reverend David William Stewart Todd, for services to the arts in Scotland

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