MEDIA RELEASE December 16, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW CEO APPOINTED AT METRO ARTS In an exciting new stage of organisational development Metro Arts has appointed Dr David Fenton as their Chief Executive Officer. Following an extensive National recruitment program, David has been selected to take on the position and to lead the organization into an exciting new stage of its development. He comes to the position with wideranging experience as an artist, arts manager, curator and academic, having held significant artistic and arts managerial positions throughout his twenty-eight years in the industry. Previous positions include Manager of Arts and Culture at Sydney Olympic Park Authority, and Festival Director of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, the largest professionally curated multi-disciplinary gay and lesbian arts festival in the world. David has directed productions for three national tours for the Bell Shakespeare Company and has been an Artistic Director of three companies. David has a long history of engagement with Metro Arts, both in his arts practice and in his additional engagements as an artistic advisor, provocateur and consultant. “I feel extremely privileged to take up the position of CEO for Metro Arts. It’s a wonderful challenge as the organisation forges new relationships to support contemporary artists and their work into the 21 st century.” David Fenton said. In 2007 David was awarded the Philip Parsons Prize for performance research from The Australian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies, after completing a practice-led PhD in Performance Innovation at QUT. Most recently, David was the Head of Performance Practices at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. John Dunleavy, Chair of the Metro Arts Board, believes that this announcement coincides with a new strategic plan and the beginning of the next stage in the history of the organization. “We welcome David to Metro Arts, and are thrilled to know that the operations of the organization will be in such fine hands. We look forward to an exciting new era of cutting edge arts practice, even greater audience and community engagement, and to Metro Arts continuing to play a vital role in the local, national and international arts arenas. ABN 29 010 100 482 109 Edward Street Brisbane 4000. GPO Box 24 Brisbane 4001 Australia. Tel: 07 3002 7100 Fax: 07 3002 7123 Email: [email protected] Website: www.metroarts.com.au David is the ideal person to build on the amazing legacies of former CEOs Robert Hughes, Joseph O’Connor, Sue Benner and Liz Burcham, and we look forward to having his artistic and entrepreneurial input into the next phase in the life of Metro Arts.” ABOUT METRO ARTS A multi-artform incubator for independent practice, Metro Arts provides a platform of infrastructure, mentoring, development and producing support, networks and leadership for artists at all stages of practice, while concurrently promoting new and emerging ideas, forms and practices to the market. --ENDS-FOR INTERVIEW AND IMAGE REQUESTS, PLEASE CONTACT: Emmaly Langridge | Communications Manager | [email protected] | (07) 3002 7100 FUNDING PARTNERS Metro Arts acknowledges the assistance of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Proudly supported by Metro Arts is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council. ABN 29 010 100 482 109 Edward Street Brisbane 4000. GPO Box 24 Brisbane 4001 Australia. Tel: 07 3002 7100 Fax: 07 3002 7123 Email: [email protected] Website: www.metroarts.com.au