The new director will lead Attenborough Arts Centre.
A new director of the Attenborough Arts Centre has been appointed by University of Leicester.
Andrew Fletcher will be the lead of the centre, which delivers the institution’s public arts programme.
He takes over from Michaela Butter MBE, who has been its director for 12 years. The duo will work together to deliver a smooth transition.
Andrew said: "I have long admired how the Attenborough Arts Centre champions inclusivity through its multi-disciplinary artistic and participatory programmes, inspired by the Attenborough family’s commitment to culture and education.
"The organisation engages public audiences and participants across the city and region, nurtures innovative work with local, national and international artists, amplifies the University of Leicester’s world-leading research.
"It also provides a hub for student creativity at the heart of campus.
"I look forward to getting to know all our audiences, participants, local artists and communities.
"I will work together with the staff, board, University, Arts Council England and peer organisations in Leicester to build on Michaela’s impressive legacy.”
Moving from his position as programme manager at Warwick Arts Centre, the largest university arts centre in the country, Andrew will take up his new role after Easter 2022.
The Attenborough Arts Centre houses the largest contemporary art gallery in Leicester and offers contemporary art exhibitions, performance, courses and workshops, and activities for children and families among its participatory activities.
Its work in championing emerging talent and disabled artists has been recognised through multiple awards and grants from Arts Council England, BBC Children in Need, Leicester Shire Promotions and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
The programme is inspired by the late Richard, Lord Attenborough – a world-leading filmmaker, actor and lifelong patron of the arts, who grew up on the Leicester campus – and who formally opened the Centre alongside Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.
Under Michaela's direction, audiences have increased from 25,000 people in 2010 to over 110,000. The venue has also doubled in size with the creation of a major gallery extension for the display of contemporary art.
In Andrew's current role, he has developed co-produced projects with artists and Coventry communities and led several public engagement programmes with the University of Warwick.
Through this, he has connected the Arts Centre to academic research, building connections with students and the Students’ Union and fostering a number of exciting international partnerships.
