After current CEO, Kate White, announced her departure at the end of last year, the National Centre for Circus Arts spent the last four months undertaking a recruitment process for her replacement. There was considerable interest in the role and after a number of interview stages, they are now delighted to introduce Dan Cowdrill, who will be stepping into the role in early September.

Dan, who is currently part of the senior management team, overseeing the commercial and external relations function, said: “I have worked in the arts, heritage and museums sector for over 20 years and it’s such an honour to now be taking on this role here at the National Centre. As I do, I look forward to maintaining and developing this word-class training offer, whilst advocating for circus as an art form – and its passionate community – as much as I possibly can”.

In announcing the news to staff, Ali King, Chair of the Board, said: “the Trustees and I are very excited about this appointment, and we are very confident that Dan will provide a safe yet exciting pair of hands to keep us moving forward. He cares very much about the future of the National Centre and all the students, staff, participants, professional artists, alumni, partners, and stakeholders that engage with us. We look forward to working with him as we enter this next chapter. It means we must now get ready to say goodbye to Kate White and are indebted to her commitment, resilient leadership and wide-ranging expertise that has been invaluable in steering the National Centre through some very complex and challenging times.

Kate White said: “Having spent quite the most amazing seventeen years at the National Centre for Circus Arts I am delighted to be handing over to Dan to lead the organisation through the next stages of its development. I know he has exciting plans and ambitions and will be a secure pair of hands to deliver a resilient and sustainable future for what is a really remarkable organisation. Dan is supported by an extraordinarily dedicated and passionate staff team who all work tirelessly to support an art form that is too often overlooked but is truly inclusive to all participants, professional artists, students and audiences. It has been a real pleasure to be part of this amazing community and I shall certainly miss them all as I watch the future of circus unfold from a distance.”

Dan formally takes up his new role on the 1^st September and there will be more updates in the Autumn on the opportunities to hear from him around his vision for the next few years.