News By Wire

Absolutely Cultured Announce New Co-Directorship

Hull, UK: Absolutely Cultured today announced the appointment of Marianne Lewsley-Stier, Janine Crombie and Joanne Norman as the organisation’s new Co-Directors. From April 2023 each will share the executive responsibilities previously held by CEO & Artistic Director Stephen Munn whilst leading on their own area of specialism. The appointments mark the beginning of a new direction for Absolutely Cultured with a focus on collaboration and sustainability, contributing to and enhancing the cultural offer in the city of Hull and the UK.

Absolutely Cultured launched in May 2018 having evolved from Hull UK City of Culture 2017. Through arts programming, community engagement and learning, as well as artist development, Absolutely Cultured works to develop cultural opportunities for the city of Hull, its residents and for creative practitioners, increasing the relevance and value of the arts to the city.

Marianne Lewsley-Stier joined Absolutely Cultured in May 2022 as Curator having previously held roles at the University of Hull for nearly ten years. As Head of Culture Campus, she developed and grew the Cultural Programme and together with the Director of the Art Collection established and programmed the Exhibition Space.Marianne will oversee Absolutely Cultured’s ambitious and multi artform content including exhibitions, performances and community projects. Working with the organisation’s wider curatorial team, she will lead an innovative and engaging programme which responds to space and place, reflecting the latest developments thatresonate with audiences locally, nationally and internationally.

Marianne Lewsley-Stier, Creative Director commented, “We are passionate about providing opportunities for artists, creating meaningful experiences for audiences, and programming accessible and inclusive cultural spaces for learning, dialogue and inspiration. We would like to thank Stephen Munn who leaves a substantial legacy that reflects his deep understanding of audiences and artistic vision.”

Janine Crombie joined Absolutely Cultured in June 2018. Having completed an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art in 2000, Janine has over 20 years in development and communications.
As Development Director Janine will lead on partnerships and income generation, communications, business planning, evaluation and staff development.

Joanne Norman joined Absolutely Cultured in 2019 having previously held roles in financial accounting, HR, IT, commercial activity management and governance. As Finance and Operations Director Joanne is responsible for the financial operations of the charity including its commercial activity as well as overseeing governance, Human Resources and IT.

Janine Crombie, Development Director and Joanne Norman, Finance and Operations Director said, “We are thrilled to be stepping into this joint Directorship at such a pivotal time for the organisation. As a new Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation for the period 2023 – 2026 with an ambitious new delivery plan, we look forward to working with the Trustees, the wider team and our partners to see what we can achieve together for Hull and the UK cultural sector.”

Pete Massey, Director, North, Arts Council England said, “The arts and culture sector in Hull has been going from strength to strength since Hull City of Culture. It is fantastic to see that this legacy programme to City of Culture, Absolutely Cultured, is playing a key role in the city’s cultural scene.

I am thrilled that we have been able to welcome Absolutely Cultured as a new National Portfolio Organisation. Marianne, Janine and Joanne each bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge of the creative sector and I can’t wait to see the work the organisation is going to create under this new directorship.”

Since 2019 Absolutely Cultured has benefitted from the direction and oversight of CEO and Artistic Director Stephen Munn, who steps down end of March 2023. Of the new appointments, Stephen Munn commented, “I am privileged to have been part of this unique organisation over the past three and a half years. Since its launch in May 2018 to establishing itself as the ground-breaking cultural catalyst that Hull enjoys today, I am delighted that my colleagues Marianne, Janine and Joanne are picking up the baton to see Absolutely Cultured through to the next stage of its development.”

Absolutely Cultured has quickly established itself as a leading cultural development organisation in the UK. Previous creative collaborators include internationally renowned, multi-award-winning, Hull based mixed reality artists Studio McGuire with Triptych, 2022; Floodlights, 2021 and Urban Legends: Northern Lights, 2018, and BAFTA and Ivor Novello Award winning composer and sound designer Dan Jones with Model City, 2020; Music for Seven Ice Cream Vans, 2019 and We Are Hull, 2017.

It’s current programming includes a collaboration with one of the UK’s leading, award-winning contemporary dance companies, Tom Dale Company, presenting a brand-new double bill of immersive, audio-visual, genre-breaking performances and dance sketches, in partnership with Hull Truck Theatre, 18 April 2023.

Press release information

Date:

Image File:

 
Left to right: Absolutely Cultured’s Co-Directors Janine Crombie, Joanne Norman and Marianne Lewsley-Stier. Photography by Tom Arran.

Area / Region:

Notes to editors

Absolutely Cultured Absolutely Cultured is a registered charity which exists to create opportunity and space for amazing creative experiences to happen, for everyone. Built on the foundations of the company which delivered Hull’s year as UK City of Culture 2017, Absolutely Cultured continues to play a leading role in Hull’s future and in the wider UK arts ecology. Known for presenting exceptional contemporary visual art in the broadest sense, Absolutely Cultured is not bound by artform or location. Working across three core strands – Arts Programming, Community Engagement & Learning, and Artist Development, Absolutely Cultured connects people, their communities and their place, through creativity. Underpinning its programming at Humber Street Gallery, in places and spaces across Hull and in Hull’s communities, is a commitment to develop access to cultural opportunities for the city, its residents and for creative practitioners. All projects therefore carry a learning and engagement principle, enhancing Hull’s cultural offer and increasing the relevance and value of the arts to the city and UK wide. 2023 Programming Highlights Humber Street Gallery, 64 Humber St, Hull HU1 1TU Opening times: Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm Humber Street Gallery, Space 1 14 April to 25 June 2023 Hetain Patel presents Baa’s House A collection of films, sculptures and paintings that explore the personal significance of Patel’s late Grandmother, Lakshmiben Patel, and her home in Bolton. Humber Street Gallery, Space 2 12 April to 2 July 2023 Luke Beech presents Winner Breaks First Hull-based artist Luke Beech presents his debut solo show at Humber Street Gallery. The new body of work reshapes the gallery space into a snooker hall pocket realm, found by an artist from another world who explores the game for the first time. Beech previously took part in Absolutely Cultured’s 12-month talent development programme INTER_CHANGE, as a member of the 2021-2022 cohort. Public Programme 3 May 2023 – Artist Talk with Hetain Patel. 7 May & 4 June 2023 – A Queer Foraging Tour, two opportunities for outdoor exploration. 10 May 2023 – An Evening with Critical Fish to unpick themes present in the current exhibition programme. 11 May 2023 – In Conversation panel with Luke Beech, Dom Heffer and Simon-Mary Vincent. 20 April 2023 – BAIZE MOI by dancer Gareth Chambers a dance solo that explores the sexual personae of masculine working-class archetypes prominent in pop culture. 8 June 2023 – SALAAM! with Hull-based artist Michael Barnes-Wynters leading a performance in the preparation, cooking and offering of a designed dhal with chapatti for all attendees in response to Hetain Patel’s Baa’s House. To discover more visit www.absolutelycultured.co.uk

Media contact

Media contact name:

Claire Rocha

Media contact business / organisation:

Rocha Communications

Media contact telephone:

07768983550

Media contact email:

All done!
Thank you for subscribing.

Email Subscription