Published: 29 September 2021
John Ellerman Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Kyle OBE as our new Chair of the Board of Trustees from 1 January 2022. Peter joined the Foundation as a Trustee, with a specialist interest in the arts in March 2014, following a distinguished career in the arts and cultural sector spanning theatre, dance, arts management and education.
The Foundation has been a longstanding funder of the arts, alongside its grantmaking in the environment and social action. Peter has been instrumental in the design of the Foundation’s ‘Creators and Curators’ programme, ensuring that it reflects the Foundation’s belief that arts and culture have the potential to enrich and transform lives. Peter has helped ensure that the Foundation funds organisations across the UK that nurture, incubate and commission people who make and curate excellent work. Peter demonstrates a keen interest in and understanding of the social action and environmental work that the Foundation supports too. He has actively shaped the Foundation’s risk and audit processes, and contributed to the continuous improvement of the Foundation’s management of its underlying endowment.
Peter is a highly experienced executive and Chair and has worked in a wide range of roles within the arts sector. Former roles include Chair and Pro Chancellor of the University of Westminster, Chair of the Magic Circle Foundation, Director-General of The English Speaking Union, Chief Executive of The Scottish Ballet, Chair of the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Dean of the Arts Educational Schools and Chief Executive of Shakespeare’s Globe. Peter is currently Chair of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Trustee of Noel Coward Foundation, Governor of English National Ballet School, Honorary President of Tavaziva Dance Company, and a Member of Council of Shakespeare’s Globe. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster and is an Honorary Fellow of South Bank University.
Alongside his duties as Chair of the Board of Trustees, Peter will continue as the Foundation’s specialist Trustee in the arts, and as Chair of the Foundation’s Risk and Audit Committee. He will be supported to fulfil these duties by his fellow Trustees and the Foundation’s staff team.
The Foundation’s current Chair, Hugh Raven, is due to step down at the end of the year. As a leading environmentalist, Hugh has provided the Foundation with environmental expertise since he joined the Board in 2010. Hugh became Chair in August 2018. Since then he has overseen the implementation of the Foundation’s current set of funding guidelines introduced in 2018, successfully recruited a new Director for the Foundation, supported the Foundation’s robust response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and encouraged the delivery of an exciting programme of new work in celebration of the Foundation’s 50th anniversary in 2021, which has included an additional grantmaking spend of £1m.
Hugh Raven, Outgoing Foundation Chair, said “Peter will be an excellent Chair of the Foundation – bringing a very wide range of experience and expertise to the role, and not just in the arts.
Like many grantmakers, the Foundation is trying to respond to a range of issues, including the global climate and nature crises, and the UK charity sector’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. I expect Peter’s considerable Board and executive experience will make a huge difference to the Foundation’s response to these issues.”
Peter Kyle said “It’s a tremendous privilege to be leading such an outstanding group of Trustees at John Ellerman Foundation. The Foundation’s grantmaking has never been more important as we seek to advance the wellbeing of people, society and the natural world in these challenging times.”