Curious Minds

Curious Minds appoints new Chief Executive

As Curious Minds prepares to become Arts Council England's Bridge Organisation for the North West, helping to ensure every child and young person in the region has the chance to experience great art and culture, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Derri Burdon as our new Chief Executive.

Derri Burdon is currently Development Manager: Enrichment & Cultural Learning Programmes of The Culture Connection in Bolton. She will take up the post in January 2012, succeeding Chief Executive Chris May, who sadly passed away in April this year and Acting Chief Executive Chris Finn.

Derri brings with her a wealth of experience and professional contacts as well as a reputation for leading the hugely successful Bolton Find Your Talent pathfinder - a government-funded initiative that explored how 5 hours a week of high quality arts and culture could be made available to all children and young people across Bolton.  With over 10 years of experience of working within arts, culture and education, Derri's background will help to ensure that Curious Minds continues to be a strong and confident presence for arts, culture and creativity in the North West, leading the way in strengthening the arts and cultural offer for children and young people and ensuring that schools have every opportunity to embrace arts and creative teaching within their curriculum and school communities.

Derri has a strong track record within educational improvement and is looking forward to working with school leaders. She will lend strength to Curious Minds’ relationship with Arts Council England and the other partnerships which are the bedrock of Curious Minds, encompassing local, national and international partners.

 

Bob Wand, Chair of Curious Minds said:

We are thrilled that Derri will be joining us at such a crucial time. Bringing arts and culture and young people closer together has never been more important. We look forward to working with her and the rest of the team over the coming years.

Derri Burdon said:

Curious Minds is a dynamic charity built on sound values and a strong mission which I whole heartedly support.  The fact that the work of Curious Minds is so highly regarded, nationally and internationally, is testament to the talented and creative team that I feel extremely privileged to join. I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Curious Minds during this next stage of its development and build on its enormous successes to date.  I look forward to working with the Board and staff to ensure that the future is certainly one full of Curious Minds.”

Derri Burdon will formally take up her post on the 16 January 2012