Creative New Zealand welcomes new Arts Council Chair

Creative New Zealand welcomes new Arts Council Chair

Creative New Zealand today welcomed the appointment of Dr Dick Grant as the new Chair of the Arts Council, replacing Alastair Carruthers who has resigned from 31 March.

Dr Grant has been a member of the Arts Council since July 2012. He had a more than 40 year career working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Pacific, Europe, Australia and Asia. He is a former New Zealand Ambassador in Bonn and Paris and a former High Commissioner in London and Singapore.

From January 2008 until March 2012, Dr Grant was Executive Director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, which works to increase New Zealanders’ understanding of and links with Asia through a range of business, cultural and education programmes.

"Creative New Zealand does important work in developing New Zealand's cultural strengths, so I am looking forward to contributing as Chairman to build on the successes the organisation has achieved," Dr Grant said.

Outgoing Chairman Alastair Carruthers served nearly six years as Chair of the Arts Council, and six prior years as Chairman or member of the Arts Board.

“After nearly 12 years at the board table the returns from investing increased public funds in the arts are material and are being enjoyed by many more New Zealanders. We can see stronger governance and artistic direction in major arts companies, a greater diversity of individual artists and art forms, and a huge appetite overseas for New Zealand artists and performers. It has been a true privilege to see so many artists reach stunning levels of achievement during a wonderful period of investment,” Mr Carruthers said.

ENDS

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