The Lowry appoints first job-share directors of development
Melanie May | 15 September 2016 | News
The Lowry has appointed Rhiannon Mckay-Smith and Gwen Oakden as its new directors of development.
The pair, who have 26 years of fundraising experience between them, will fulfil the role on a job-share basis and will be responsible for the Salford-based arts venue’s annual, non-commercial income.
They replace Stephen Crocker, who is leaving in November to take up the position of chief executive of Norwich Theatre Royal.
Mckay-Smith began her fundraising career at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew before moving to the Young Vic theatre in London’s Waterloo. She joined The Lowry as head of development in 2011 and has worked on the organisation’s £5m capital campaign, securing funding for the Artist Development Programme and over £100,000 for its annual Christmas Appeal.
Oakden started her career working first for Arts & Business and then Morris Hargreaves McIntyre. A past board member of FutureEverything, she has worked for Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth before arriving at The Lowry in 2015 to cover Mckay-Smith’s maternity leave. Since then, she has worked on the opening of the £3m bar and restaurant, Pier Eight and the delivery of the cross-arts festival, Week 53.
Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said:
“Rhiannon and Gwen are a formidable team whose skills and experience complement each other perfectly. They take the reins at a crucial period in our history when public sector funding is ever-decreasing and our artistic programme is more and more ambitious.”
Photo: L-R Rhiannon Mckay-Smith and Gwen Oakden
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.