Dawn Airey has been appointed as the new chair of Arts Council England, succeeding Sir Nicholas Serota, who has led the organisation for nearly a decade. The announcement was made by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who expressed her delight at the appointment.
A Wealth of Experience
Airey brings over three decades of experience in media and creative industries to the role. She has served as chief executive of Channel 5, managing director of channels and services at Sky, managing director of global content at ITV, and senior vice president at Yahoo! for Europe, Middle East and Africa. From 2015 to 2018, she was chief executive of Getty Images.
Currently, Airey chairs 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 held since 2019. In 2023, she became chancellor of Edge Hill University. She joined the board of Channel 4 in 2021, acting as interim chair from 2022 until 2023, and remains deputy chair. In the 2024 Birthday Honours, she was made a CBE for services to theatre and charity.
A New Era for Arts Council England
Airey's four-year term begins on August 1, 2026, taking over from Sir Nicholas Serota, who was appointed in February 2017. His tenure was extended and will end on July 31, 2026. Airey expressed her excitement, saying she is "thrilled and humbled to succeed the arts titan that is Sir Nicholas Serota," praising his courageous leadership over the past decade.
She emphasised the importance of the Arts Council in championing art and culture, especially in an era dominated by AI and automation. "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," she said. Airey noted the Arts Council's new mandate to support, nurture, and protect the arts transparently and with fairer distribution of spend.
Government and Sector Reactions
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described Airey as a passionate advocate for the arts, stating, "She will take the helm at this incredibly important time, as this Government seeks to unlock access to exceptional arts for everyone, everywhere." Nandy also thanked Sir Nicholas for his tireless dedication during challenging times, including funding cuts, the pandemic, Brexit, and curriculum changes.
Outgoing chair Sir Nicholas called his tenure a "great honour," noting the sector's extraordinary resilience. He expressed confidence in Airey's leadership, saying, "In Dawn, the Arts Council will have a leader who understands the unique role the arts play in society." Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, praised Sir Nicholas's outstanding guidance and welcomed Airey as a catalyst for change, emphasising her wealth of experience across arts, media, and sport.
Appointment Process
Under the Arts Council England's royal charter, the chair is appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. An advisory assessment panel, including a senior departmental official and an independent panel member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, assisted in the decision.
