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Dawn Airey Appointed Arts Council England Chair

Posted 02 Jun 2026

Copyright © Helen Murray 2025

Congratulations to National Youth Theatre Chair Dawn Airey CBE who has today been announced as the incoming chair of Arts Council England.

Paul Roseby OBE, CEO and Artistic Director of National Youth Theatre said:

‘We can think of no better chair and dedicated champion for the arts and wider cultural sector than Dawn. I and everyone at NYT owes Dawn the greatest of gratitudes and enormous respect for her tireless work and the immense life-changing contribution she has made to the young creatives we serve. We pride ourselves on our alumni leaving job-ready and any organisation is very fortunate to have her at the helm.’

Dawn was appointed as the first female Chair of the leading youth arts charity in 2011 and since then has overseen the significant growth of the charity’s programme, reach around the UK and financial sustainability, as well as a major redevelopment of its north London home.

  • A major £4.5m RIBA award-winning redevelopment of the NYT’s north London home, and the purchase of the Lease providing long term financial resilience

  • The charity delivering the first theatrical Welcome Ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games & 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

  • The formation of the NYT REP Company, a free industry-led alternative to formal training, which over 12 years has saved over £1.6m in fees for 170+ young performers and propelled them on to win BAFTAs and leading West End and film roles

  • 100+ productions at leading theatres around the UK showcasing Britain’s best young talent, over 60 new plays or adaptations predominantly by emerging young writers and creative opportunities for 200,000 young people

  • 8 landmark productions in response to the climate crisis as part of an art and activism programme featuring performances at COP26, LEEDS 2023 and First Light Festival reaching 25 million audience members

  • Major new partnerships with Netflix, Microsoft, Digital Theatre, English Heritage and TikTok

  • A transformative new Inclusive Practice programme bringing free drama opportunities to hundreds of disabled young people in non-mainstream schools around the UK