Darren Henley OBE

Why Investment in Culture Pays

Darren will discuss the key benefits that art and culture bring to our lives: encouraging our nation’s creativity; advancing education; impacting positively on health and wellbeing; supporting innovation and technology; providing defining characteristics to villages, town and cities; contribution to economic prosperity; and enhancing England’s reputation for cultural excellence on the global stage.

Darren Henley OBE is Chief Executive of the Arts Council England. He has led two independent reviews into music and cultural education which resulted in England’s first National Plan for Music Education, new networks of Music Education Hubs, Cultural Education Partnerships and Heritage Schools, the Museums and Schools programme, the BFI Film Academy and the National Youth Dance Company.

Before joining the Arts Council, he led Classic FM for 15 years. He holds degrees in politics from the University of Hull, in management from the University of South Wales and in history of art from the University of Buckingham.

Darren is also an honorary fellow at Canterbury Christ Church University, where he received his award in 2010.