Norfolk and Norwich Festival has announced a new chairman for the arts organisation.
Brenda Arthur will be taking over from outgoing chairman Caroline Jarrold who is stepping down after nine years in the post.
Ms Arthur, whose many roles have included being leader of Norwich City Council for four years and chief executive of Age Concern Norwich for 17 years, said: 'I am both honoured and excited to have been chosen to be the next chair of Norfolk & Norwich Festival. I would like to pay tribute to the huge contribution that Caroline Jarrold has made in making the festival the success it is. I look forward to working with the other members of the board, staff, volunteers, funders and partner organisations to build on the festival's significant achievements.'
Ms Arthur has sat on the boards of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the Local Enterprise Partnership and Norwich Theatre Royal, and she is currently as vice chairman of Writers' Centre Norwich.
Reflecting her time as chairman, Ms Jarrold said: 'I have been proud to chair Norfolk & Norwich Festival for the past nine years, during which time it has developed to be firmly established as the premiere arts festival in the East of England and one of the big four UK international arts festivals. The festival has extended the breadth of art forms it presents whilst remaining faithful to its historic roots, and there has been greatly increased involvement across the local community.'
Alex Darbyshire and William Galinsky, the executive and artistic directors of the festival, said: 'Caroline has been a wonderful chair and under her guidance the festival has become one of the most celebrated arts festivals in the UK. During her time the festival has become an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and produced many memorable events, such as Walking, How Like An Angel and Wolf's Child and increased the range of participation opportunities in projects such as Wild Life. Brenda Arthur was a committed supporter of and advocate for the festival during her time as leader of Norwich City Council and we are delighted that she will be joining the festival as our new chair. Brenda joins us at an exciting time as we continue to fire up the imaginations of an ever-growing and broadening audience and bring people together through the universal language of the arts. We look forward to working with her through the next phase of the organisation's work.'
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