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New artistic director of Battersea Arts Centre is Tarek Iskander New artistic director of Battersea Arts Centre is Tarek Iskander
(35 minutes later)
Battersea Arts Centre has appointed Tarek Iskander as its new artistic director and CEO. Iskander plans to “reinvent how we embolden our communities and our artists” and to “bring underrepresented voices to the fore”. He says he was attracted by the pioneering and rebellious spirit of BAC, as well as the history of radical thought and inclusiveness at the building, formerly Battersea’s town hall. Battersea Arts Centre in south London has appointed Tarek Iskander as its new artistic director and chief executive. Iskander plans to “reinvent how we embolden our communities and our artists” and to “bring underrepresented voices to the fore”. He says he was attracted by the pioneering and rebellious spirit of the centre, as well as the history of radical thought and inclusiveness at the building, formerly Battersea’s town hall.
Iskander is a theatre director and playwright who has also worked for Arts Council England and, unusually for an artistic director, spent time in senior and executive roles with the National Health Service. He said the two worlds were different in many ways but both “are about serving people and serving society and have a lot in common in terms of values”. He believes the performing arts must “engage with issues and stories that really reflect the reality of daily life and society”. Iskander is a theatre director and playwright who has also worked for Arts Council England and, unusually for an artistic director, spent time in senior and executive roles with the National Health Service. He said the two worlds were different in many ways but both were “about serving people and serving society and have a lot in common in terms of values”. He believes the performing arts must “engage with issues and stories that really reflect the reality of daily life and society”.
He already has hands-on experience at BAC. Last year, Iskander was one of three BAME candidates to be given shared artistic director responsibilities for a forthcoming takeover season of work at BAC, as part of the Up Next training initiative. Organised by Artistic Directors of the Future, the initiative is, he says, a “developmental leadership programme to broaden representation in the arts”. He already has hands-on experience at BAC. Last year, Iskander was one of three black and minority ethnic candidates to be given shared artistic director responsibilities for a forthcoming takeover season of work at BAC, as part of the Up Next training initiative. Organised by Artistic Directors of the Future, the initiative is, he says, a “developmental leadership programme to broaden representation in the arts”.
Iskander succeeds David Jubb, who is stepping down as BAC’s artistic director and CEO after 15 years, during which he oversaw the renovation of the Grade II-listed building after a devastating fire in 2015. Jubb said it was a “fantastic appointment” and that Iskander “brings vision, warmth and a breadth of experience. He will lead positive change and take the organisation to a whole new level.” Iskander succeeds David Jubb, who is stepping down as BAC’s artistic director and chief executive after 15 years, during which he oversaw the renovation of the Grade II-listed building after a devastating fire in 2015. Jubb said it was a “fantastic appointment” and that Iskander “brings vision, warmth and a breadth of experience. He will lead positive change and take the organisation to a whole new level.”
Jubb’s legacy was described as “immense” by Iskander, who will continue to use Jubb’s collaborative “scratch” method of working, whereby everyone has a say in developing new ideas. “The spirit of scratch will continue,” he said, “it’s in the DNA.” Iskander wants to “continuously reinvent how we embolden our communities and our artists. Battersea Arts Centre will always be a home for the pioneering and the underrepresented, the visionary and the mischievous.”Jubb’s legacy was described as “immense” by Iskander, who will continue to use Jubb’s collaborative “scratch” method of working, whereby everyone has a say in developing new ideas. “The spirit of scratch will continue,” he said, “it’s in the DNA.” Iskander wants to “continuously reinvent how we embolden our communities and our artists. Battersea Arts Centre will always be a home for the pioneering and the underrepresented, the visionary and the mischievous.”
Born in Sunderland, Iskander moved as a child to the Middle East and relocated to London as a teenager, becoming a regular at BAC. He co-founded the vibrant Yard theatre in Hackney, east London, where he directed two of his own plays: Shiver, which revisited the relationship between Miranda and Prospero from The Tempest, and Qudz, about life in Iraq. He also directed Minotaur at the Unicorn theatre and has been resident director at the National Theatre Studio. Born in Sunderland, Iskander moved as a child to the Middle East and relocated to London as a teenager, becoming a regular at the centre. He co-founded the vibrant Yard theatre in Hackney, east London, where he directed two of his own plays: Shiver, which revisited the relationship between Miranda and Prospero from The Tempest, and Qudz, about life in Iraq. He also directed Minotaur at the Unicorn theatre and has been resident director at the National Theatre Studio.
The recruitment process was overseen by David Bryan, BAC’s new chair of the board of trustees, who said: “Tarek emerged as the leading candidate after an open and rigorous recruitment process, involving external panellists and members of the community. I look forward to supporting his inspiring vision.” The recruitment process was overseen by David Bryan, the centre’s new chair of the board of trustees, who said: “Tarek emerged as the leading candidate after an open and rigorous recruitment process, involving external panellists and members of the community. I look forward to supporting his inspiring vision.”
Iskander has, for the past year, served as interim director for theatre at ACE, and believes that “people in the industry coming in and out of working for the Arts Council is beneficial on both sides”.Iskander has, for the past year, served as interim director for theatre at ACE, and believes that “people in the industry coming in and out of working for the Arts Council is beneficial on both sides”.
He is one of several new ADs taking over at London’s theatres after a year that has seen a welcome increase in diversity in leadership roles: Lynette Linton is taking over at the Bush theatre, after Madani Younis moved to the Southbank Centre; Justin Audibert now runs the Unicorn theatre; and Nadia Fall has just finished her first year in charge of Theatre Royal Stratford East. He is one of several new artistic directors taking over at London’s theatres after a year that has seen a welcome increase in diversity in leadership roles: Lynette Linton is taking over at the Bush theatre, after Madani Younis moved to the Southbank Centre; Justin Audibert now runs the Unicorn theatre, and Nadia Fall has just finished her first year in charge of Theatre Royal Stratford East.
“It feels really refreshing,” said Iskander. “I’m really enthused to be part of that generation making those changes. There’s been a massive change, particularly in London, around ethnic diversity and cultural diversity but there’s a long way to go in terms of all the other aspects, whether it’s disability or socio-economic [diversity]. I think we should all keep pushing to make sure that, as a group, we are as representative as possible of everyone.” “It feels really refreshing,” said Iskander. “I’m really enthused to be part of that generation making those changes. There’s been a massive change, particularly in London, around ethnic diversity and cultural diversity but there’s a long way to go in terms of all the other aspects, whether it’s disability or socioeconomic [diversity]. I think we should all keep pushing to make sure that, as a group, we are as representative as possible of everyone.”
Iskander said that he was attracted by the idea of supporting others in his new post and has no immediate plans to write and direct himself at BAC because the job is “big enough as it is”. He takes up the joint role as AD and CEO in May 2019. Iskander said that he was attracted by the idea of supporting others in his new post and had no immediate plans to write and direct himself at BAC because the job was “big enough as it is”. He takes up the joint role as artistic director and chief executive in May 2019.
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Battersea Arts CentreBattersea Arts Centre
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Comedy (Stage)Comedy (Stage)
Comedy (Culture)Comedy (Culture)
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