Dimbleby to become Towner’s first president

Towner Eastbourne has welcomed STEPHEN WELTON and CAROLINE LUCAS to its board as chair and trustee respectively.

The appointments at the South Downs art gallery follow DAVID DIMBLEBY’s retirement as chair after ten years. He will become the gallery’s first president.

Currently chair of the British Business Bank, Welton has over three decades’ experience in financial services, investment and business leadership. He is the founder and former CEO of the Business Growth Fund, has held senior roles at Barclays and JP Morgan and is a member of the Magic Circle.

Former MP for Brighton Pavilion, Lucas was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999 and the House of Commons in 2010. She was the leader and co-leader of the Green Party from 2008 – 2012, and stood down as an MP earlier this year.

A writer of several books, Lucas worked with Towner in 2019, curating an exhibition from Towner’s collection reflecting her passions, including her environmental work in Sussex.

Welton said, “After a very successful decade, Towner is a shining example of an arts institution with the right mix of ambition, community focus and a forward-looking agenda. With ever-increasing challenges on local funding, it is crucially important, now more than ever, to forge strong partnerships to ensure the long-term success of our cultural life at both a local and national level.

Downer’s director CEO, JOE HILL, added: “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with David in his new role as Towner’s president. His passion and belief in what we do have been invaluable, and his creative guidance has helped shape many of our most ambitious projects.”

Of the gallery’s new appointments, he said, “Stephen’s deep commitment to sustainable businesses and his passion for supporting cultural and social enterprises make him an ideal leader for Towner as we enter a new phase of the gallery’s development.

“Caroline will be an enormous asset to Towner; her passion for the environment and the local landscape will be hugely beneficial as we work towards the realisation of the Black Robin Farm project.”