The Arts Foundation has appointed Mary Jane Edwards as its Interim Director with immediate effect. Mary Jane joins at an exciting time for the foundation, in the lead up to The Arts Foundation Futures Award (AFFA) 2022 and brings with her a breadth of experience across the arts. She takes over from Shelley Warren, who left in October to embark on an MA at Brighton University after 22 years at the helm.
Howell James, Chair of The Arts Foundation says:
“I and my fellow Trustees are delighted that Mary Jane will be joining The Arts Foundation to oversee the next edition of The Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2022 and drive the next phase of the charity’s development. Mary Jane’s knowledge of the arts and culture sector is extensive, and her commitment to nurturing artistic talent and understanding of both the challenges and opportunities currently facing artists and creative communities is formidable.”
Mary Jane Edwards says:
“I feel incredibly fortunate to be appointed Interim Director of The Arts Foundation, which has long championed the importance of creative practice and its vital contribution to society. I look forward to working closely with existing and new partners, and critically, resourcing and supporting artists at a pivotal moment in their creative development.”
Mary Jane Edwards has a background in social and visual arts and has held senior roles in several public arts institutions in the UK, including Cement Fields, FACT and Metal Liverpool. In addition to the arts, Mary Jane has worked in social policy, with a particular focus on youth employment within the creative industries, and social finance for common good. She also established and co-led an environmental art collective, which connects the practices of artists, scientists, and researchers with a focus on ecology and environmental sciences. Mary Jane is an Honorary Fellow and Advisory Board Member of the University of Liverpool Science and Literature Hub.
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