Alun Ffred Jones, the Heritage Minister, has announced the appointments of six new members; John Geraint, Osi Rhys Osmond, Richard Turner, Alan Watkin, Gerwyn Williams, John Carey Williams, to the Arts Council of Wales (ACW). Their terms of appointment will begin on 1 April 2010 and will last for three years.
Alun Ffred Jones said:
“I am pleased to appoint these six new Members to the Arts Council of Wales. They bring with them a wealth of valuable of experience from a range of backgrounds across the arts and I am sure that over the three years of their term of appointment, they will contribute a great deal to the work of the Arts Council.”
Dai Smith, Chair of Arts Council of Wales said:
“It is always sad when the term of office of much valued and experienced Arts Council members as David Vokes, Simon Dancey, Ruth Till and Rhiannon Hughes finally expires. They have been fantastic advocates and ambassadors for the arts in Wales. But as we thank them, and soon say goodbye to them, we will be welcoming six new members whose qualities of expertise and passionate enthusiasm so impressed in their application and will be so vital to us in this coming year of Strategic Investment Review. The new Arts Council that has now emerged is a terrific blend of personalities and experience, and one which, as Chair, I am really proud to lead over the next three crucial years.”
John Geraint
John Geraint is Creative Director of Green Bay Media which produces drama, documentary and arts programmes for major UK and international broadcasters. Previously he had a twenty year career at the BBC and received a Royal Television Society award for an outstanding contribution to television. He is also Chair of the Skillset Cymru National Board. He holds a Ministerial public appointment as a Member of the Wales Employment and Skills Board for which he receives £6,168 a year.
Osi Rhys Osmond
Osi Rhys Osmond is a Lecturer in Drawing, Painting and Art History at Swansea Metropolitan University School of Art and Design. He was previously Head of Foundation Studies at West Wales School of the Arts Carmarthen and a visiting lecturer at University of Wales, Lampeter. For many years he has written reviews and articles on art and culture and has appeared on TV and radio in both Welsh and English. Presented a number of television series including ‘Byd O Liw’ and ‘Lliwiau’ on S4C. He was elected to the Gorsedd of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2006, in recognition of his contribution to the arts, education and the promulgation of the Welsh language. As a practising artist his concerns, integrating myth and modernity, encompass contemporary tensions, and he exhibits widely.
He describes himself as a cultural activist, strongly believing in the importance of cultural production and reception and hopes to encourage a greater dialogue between the art forms, among both practitioners and consumers. He holds no other Ministerial public appointments.
Richard Turner
Richard Turner is Deputy Director of the Global Innovation Academy at the University of Wales. He is a partner and Director of Creative Enterprise Consulting and a freelance consultant, trainer and lecturer in creative entrepreneurship and cultural diversity. He is also Chairman of South Wales Intercultural Community Arts (SWICA). Previously he has worked at the Arts Council of Wales as Head of its Arts for All Lottery programmes and Senior Strategic Development officer. He was Wales Manager for the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), Director of Cardiff and District Multicultural Arts (CADMAD) and a Co-Founder of Nofit State Circus based in Cardiff. He holds no other Ministerial public appointments.
Alan Watkin
Alan Watkin is the Chief Libraries, Leisure and Culture Officer in Wrexham County Borough Council. He is currently Cultural Advisor to the Wales Local Government Association, a Member of the Legacy Trust Advisory Board for the Cultural Olympiad in Wales and a Member of the Welsh books Council. He was also a Member of the Wales Arts Review panel. He holds a public appointment as a member of the CyMAL Advisory Council which is unpaid
Gerwyn Wiliams
Gerwyn Wiliams is Professor at Bangor University. He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Deputy Head of the College of Arts and Humanities and Deputy Director of the School for Welsh Medium Studies. He was awarded a Personal Chair in 2005 and acted as Head of the School of Welsh between 2006 and 2009. He was awarded the National Eisteddfod Crown in 1994 and won the book of the Year competition in 1997. He has acted as adjudicator for literary competitions at the National Eisteddfod and the Urdd Eisteddfod on a number of occasions. He edits several literary series and is a former editor of the journal ‘Taliesin’. He holds no other Ministerial public appointments.
John Carey Williams
John Carey Williams is the Development Director for Welsh Independent Dance. In addition to this he works as a freelance Theatre Producer and Arts Administrator. He was previously Assistant General Manager at Clwyd Theatre Cymru. He also has a background in law, auditing and accounting. He holds no other Ministerial public appointments.
