Headshot of Tonya Nelson, Executive Director, Enterprise and Innovation, Arts Council England. She is a Black woman with short, dark curly hair, photographed in front of a white backdrop. She wears a light blue blazer and pearl earrings.

Photo: Tonya Nelson

Changing Faces

ACE appoints Nelson to Executive Board

Arts Professional
2 min read

Arts Council England (ACE) has announced TONYA NELSON as Executive Director, Enterprise and Innovation. 

Having served as Area Director, London since 2020, Nelson is due to join the Executive Board in July. 

Nelson first joined ACE in 2019 as Director of Arts Technology and Innovation. Prior to this, she worked at University College London for nine years, where she was Director of Museums and Cultural Programmes. In 2017, she was seconded to the DCMS to co-author the policy report Culture is Digital. 

Nelson sits on the Board of Trustees of The National Gallery and Royal Collection Trust. She was formerly the Chair of the International Council of Museums (UK). 

“I believe that new ideas and enterprising behaviour are triggered by challenging times, and in this role I look forward to supporting our world leading creative and cultural sector in navigating the current financial environment, to become stronger and more innovative organisations in the future,” Nelson said. 

Chief Executive DARREN HENLEY said Nelson has become an “increasingly important part of [the] senior leadership team” over the past four years. 

“I know that she’ll make a big impact on our work around innovation, helping to create the conditions where artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries can serve their audiences, participants and visitors in new exciting way."