Arts Derbyshire thanks outgoing Creative Director as it looks ahead to an exciting next chapter for its Creative Health programme

Arts Derbyshire today announced that Nicola Middler will be stepping down as Creative Director and thanked her warmly for her contribution during her time in post. The charity confirmed that its Creative Health programme, including the flagship Creatives in Place (CiP) programme, remains a core priority, and arrangements are already in place to ensure the work continues without interruption.

Nicola says “I have hugely valued my time at Arts Derbyshire and the people, partnerships and possibilities it has brought into my life. I’m incredibly proud of what we have developed together – particularly the growing focus on creative health, our work connecting the creative and health sectors, and our ambition to strengthen Derbyshire’s creative ecology. I’m grateful to the brilliant colleagues, artists, creative practitioners, communities, partners and funders I’ve had the privilege of working alongside, and to everyone who has supported and challenged me along the way.”

Nicola continues “I’m delighted to have been appointed Programme Director for Changing Places, an Arts Council Creative People and Places programme in North West Leicestershire. The programme is rooted in my hometown of Coalville [and is] an opportunity that I simply couldn’t pass up… Arts Derbyshire has an important role to play in Derbyshire’s cultural future, and I’m excited to see the organisation continue to grow and develop. I’ll be cheering it on from just over the county border!”

Debi Hedderwick, Chair, Arts Derbyshire says “We are grateful to Nicola for the energy and commitment that she has brought to Arts Derbyshire, and we wish her every success in her new role. The Creative Health programme is crucial to the charity’s core aims and vision, and our focus is to sustain the momentum.”

Executive Director Hannah Barker will continue to work with the Board of Trustees to ensure a smooth transition, whilst trustee Mary Muir will be guiding the Creative Health team through this next stage while longer-term arrangements are put in place. Mary brings more than 30 years of strategic arts development experience, alongside a strong commitment to the role of creativity in supporting health, wellbeing and vibrant, inclusive communities, and her experience will be hugely valuable to the team. The charity plans to share more about the next phase of leadership for the creative health programme in due course.

“I’m looking forward to supporting such a committed team,” said Mary Muir. “The partnerships we’ve built are genuinely special, and I’m excited to help carry that work forward while we shape what comes next.”

Hannah Barker, Executive Director said “It’s a moment of real optimism for us. The partnerships that are evolving around this programme demonstrate the commitment to creative health in Derbyshire, and we’re determined to keep building on them.”

Arts Derbyshire will continue to develop its creative health programme and the planned development for its membership through support, guidance and connectivity, with the network of partners around the county that we are proud to collaborate with.