Statement from Absolutely Cultured Leadership Team

Today, Absolutely Cultured is pleased to announce a new management structure as the organisation looks ahead to the next phase of its development.

In recent months and against the background of a highly challenging funding landscape, we have been working with the board of trustees and consulting with partners to develop a new business model which will see us focusing resources on our visual art offer for the city.

This new direction is driven by our commitment to be responsive to Hull’s changing needs. As with many arts organisations, we are also navigating an increasingly challenging economic and funding environment. As such, we need to make sure we invest our resources where we can have the biggest impact and can best contribute to Hull’s cultural sector.

As part of this process, we have considered different leadership options and during this time, Janine Crombie (Development Director) and Joanne Norman (Finance Director) have both announced their intention to step down. As a result, we have made the decision to move to a single leadership model which we believe is the best option to ensure the organisation is positioned well at this time.

Janine and Joanne said ‘Having both been with the organisation since 2018, we have seen Absolutely Cultured deliver some incredible art experiences. We couldn’t be more proud of the team and what has been achieved. Our new purpose sees us building on Absolutely Cultured’s growing reputation for quality visual art in Humber Street Gallery and beyond its walls. We can’t wait to share future plans, but for us, the time is right to move on.’

After a successful recruitment process, Marianne Lewsley-Stier (previously Creative Director) has been appointed to lead the organisation going forward.

Marianne said “Janine and Joanne have made a huge contribution to Absolutely Cultured over the last six years. They will be greatly missed by myself, the Trustees and the wider team. It has been a pleasure to work alongside them as we’ve shaped our plans for the future which I’m very much looking forward to leading the team to deliver”.

Janine and Joanne will remain in post until Friday 28 June to ensure a smooth transition and we will share further information about our future plans in due course.

Janine, Joanne and Marianne, Absolutely Cultured Leadership Team.