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Darren Henley

Chief executive

Arts Council England

About Darren Henley

Darren Henley is chief executive of Arts Council England. Since joining the Arts Council in 2015, he has championed the positive impact of public investment in artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries on creating happier lives in villages, towns and cities across England.

He currently chairs the UK National Lottery Forum and the National Lottery Promotions Unit management board, with previous roles including managing director of Classic FM and author of two independent government reviews into music education and cultural education.

Recent Articles

Darren Henley: Let's not underestimate the value of ideas to the economy

Opinion

Theatre often steers away from talking about growth and economics. But, says Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley ahead of the government’s spending review next week, the value of ideas is not to be overlooked

Making our case to government must be about more than facts and figures

Opinion

The argument for public investment in culture isn’t won or lost in the short term, says ACE’s chief executive officer Darren Henley. Rather, it’s made over the long term: by demonstrating the advantages – financial, social, personal – delivered by public investment in culture

Now is the time to make our case to a new government

Opinion

Arts Council England’s chief executive Darren Henley on why a new government is an opportunity for the sector to make the case for its importance and why the issues of excellence and access should not be a zero-sum argument

Darren Henley: 'I will always be greedy, and make the case, for more investment in culture'

Features

Giving the opening keynote address at The Stage’s Future of Theatre conference on March 29, Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley spoke about the changes the funding body is making in its latest portfolio and why he believes they are necessary for the sector’s future. Here is his speech in full

Darren Henley: Why we took these theatre funding decisions

Opinion

As this NPO funding round is announced, Arts Council England boss Darren Henley writes exclusively for The Stage to outline why the funding body took the decisions announced today for England’s theatre sector

Arts Council England: ‘We want to be a beacon of light promising a return in the future’

Opinion

In a special supplement titled ‘How the arts can survive the coronavirus crisis’, Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley says he hopes the organisation’s emergency response fund will assist struggling artists across the country and explains how ACE is helping provide a future for the sector