Dawn Airey will replace Sir Nicholas Serota as the chair of the Arts Council England, it has been announced.
Airey, who has over 30 years of experience in the media and creative industries, is set to hold the term for four years, which will begin on August 1.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said she was “thrilled” to announce Airey as the incoming chair.
“She will take the helm at this incredibly important time, as this Government seeks to unlock access to exceptional arts for everyone, everywhere,” she said.
“Dawn brings more than just a wide range of experience across broadcasting, theatre and the wider arts – she brings a passion for what the arts can do for this country and all the people in it.
“I have no doubt that she will insist on pressing ahead with long overdue action to put people back at the centre of their own national story.”
She will replace Sir Nicholas, who was appointed chair of Arts Council England in February 2017 and has helmed the organisation for almost a decade.
He was initially appointed for a four-year tenure but it was extended and will come to an end on July 31 2026.
Airey has served as the chief executive of Channel 5, where she was the inaugural director of programmes, as well as being the former managing director of channels and services at Sky.
She has also held roles as managing director of global content at ITV and senior vice president at Yahoo! for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
From 2015 until 2018 she was the chief executive of Getty Images.
Following the announcement, Airey said she was “thrilled and humbled to succeed the arts titan that is Sir Nicholas Serota”, whom she said had “magnificently and courageously chaired” the Arts Council England for the last decade.
“The importance of the Arts Council in championing art and culture has never been more needed because the sector has never been more vital to our nation,” she said.
“In a world where AI, technology and automation are increasingly dominant, human connection, experience, imagination and creativity are the things that bring us together. They are the quintessential elements of a creative life and of a life well lived.
“The Arts Council has a clear new mandate, informed by the recent independent review – to do more to support, nurture and protect the arts, and to do so transparently, with speed and with a fairer distribution of spend.”
Airey added that the Arts Council England “champions artistic excellence and experience for all, wherever you live, whatever you do” and she was “excited” to be stepping into the role.
Airey is currently the chair of the National Youth Theatre and the educational platform Digital Theatre+.
She also chairs the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship board, a position she has held since 2019.
In 2023, Airey was appointed chancellor of Edge Hill University. Two years earlier, she joined the board of Channel 4, where she acted as interim chair from 2022 until last year. She is currently deputy chair of the board.
In the 2024 Birthday Honours, Airey was made a CBE for services to theatre and to charity. She is a vice president and fellow of the Royal Television Society, and a fellow of the Royal Society for Arts.
Outgoing chair Sir Nicholas said being at the helm of the Arts Council England had been a “great honour”.
“Over the last decade, we have navigated periods of significant change and uncertainty, including a global pandemic, economic challenges and shifts in the way people engage with culture. Through it all, the creativity, resilience and ambition of the sector have been extraordinary,” he said.
“In Dawn, the Arts Council will have a leader who understands the unique role the arts play in society and the profound impact they have on individuals. I am confident that, under her stewardship, the organisation will thrive and the sector will flourish.”
Arts Council England’s chief executive, Darren Henley, said Sir Nicholas had provided “outstanding leadership and guidance” during his tenure.
“As our next chapter begins, it’s exciting to have Dawn as our new leader. We’ll benefit from her wealth of experience across the arts, media and sport. From day one, she’ll be a catalyst for change helping us in the next stage of our journey championing the value of artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries.
“I share her passion for ensuring England is a nation which truly offers a fair spread of excellent culture for everybody, everywhere.”
Ms Nandy also thanked Sir Nicholas for his “tireless dedication to the arts and to artists”, noting that he faced a “challenging time for the arts” with funding cuts, a global pandemic, Brexit negotiations and the downgrading of arts on the national curriculum.
“Throughout all of this he has been a calm, passionate and reassuring presence and a steadfast champion for access to great art. We owe him our gratitude,” she said.
Under Arts Council England’s royal charter, the appointment of the chair is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
Ministers were also assisted in their decision-making by an advisory assessment panel which included a senior departmental official and a senior independent panel member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
