Our Board

The Board sets the strategic direction for the Arts Council and oversees the work of the Executive.

The Board consists of the Chairman, Mr Liam Hannaway, plus 8 members, and meets on a regular basis.

The Board members, including Vice-Chair, Mr William Leathem, are drawn from a broad cross-section of representatives from the arts and cultural sector.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) of the Department for Communities (DFC).

The Council was established as a statutory body by the Arts Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 on 1 September 1995. It is funded via grant-in-aid by the Department for Communities and is managed by a Board. Members are appointed by the Minister for Communities.

All appointments are made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. A selection panel, which includes an independent assessor, as required under the Commissioner’s Code, considers the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on the appointments rests with the Minister.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if declared) to be published.

The post of Chairman receives an honorarium of £11,299 per annum, the post of Vice-Chair receives an honorarium of £3,973 per annum.

Board member positions are not remunerated but attract travel and subsistence allowances. They require a commitment of at least 11 days for Board meetings, four planning days and approximately six days for committee meetings plus other time associated with the position. In addition, all members are expected to ensure the visibility of the Council by attending arts events on a regular basis.

The Chairman and Council members have individual and collective responsibility to the Minister for Communities (or, in the absence of a locally devolved administration, a Minister from the NIO) for the governance of the Arts Council.

The Arts Council has a key role to play in developing and improving the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts, and increasing public access to and participation in the arts. It is also responsible for the distribution of Lottery grants. Its statutory functions are set out in The Arts Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

Developing Strategy

The Board provides leadership for the organisation. It is the Board’s responsibility to define and develop the strategic direction of the Arts Council.

Providing Public Accountability

We invest and distribute public money to the arts across the Northern Ireland. The Board is committed to acting in a way that promotes the highest standards of public finance at every level.

Monitoring Performance

The Board monitors the performance of the organisation to ensure that aims and targets are being reached.

If you need to contact the board please email: council@artscouncil-ni.org

Mr Liam Hannaway

Chair

Period of appointment extended from 01/02 2025 until a new chair is appointed
First term of appointment

Mr Hannaway is a former Chief Executive and Chief Accounting Office of a district council, with experience of establishing governance arrangements, committee structures, setting direction/strategy, through the establishment of corporate plans and managing budgets. He was responsible for the publication of the council community plan using leadership and negotiating skills, as well as stakeholder engagement to obtain agreement for the plan from public sector officials, politicians and community representatives. He has a long history of interest and involvement in the Arts: in a voluntary capacity as an actor and director with Lislea Dramatic Players and as a former Chair of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland for Ulster; in local government, he was instrumental in the development of the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Sculpture Park. He is currently the Chair of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland until October 2025. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Mr William Leathem

Vice Chair

Appointed as Vice Chair from 01/02/2025 to 31/01/2029
Second term of appointment

Mr Leathem is a former elected member of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, where he served as Chair of both the Development Committee and Governance & Audit Committee. He is presently the Chair of USEL (Ulster Supported Employment Limited). This has a time commitment of 12 Board meetings per year with a remuneration of £296.25 per meeting. He is a former Board Member of the Ulster-Scots Agency, Libraries NI and Consumer Council NI. He is currently the Project Manager for Ballinderry War Memorial Hall. Mr Leathem has varied audit and governance experience, project management experience and financial management skills, which he will bring to this role. Mr Leathem has had political activity for the DUP within the last 5 years.

Mrs Lynne Best

Appointed from 01/07/2024 to 30/06/2028
Second term of appointment

Mrs Lynne Best is Managing Partner of Fourth Pillar, a corporate and financial PR company which specialises in the business of music. She was previously Head of Communications for the music licensing company PPL and Director at Well Red Music and Media, which provided corporate communications and policy advice to a range of global media and music companies. She is the former Vice Chair of the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast and former Chair of the Board of the Americana Music Association UK. She was inducted into the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour in 2020. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Mr Paul Brolly

Appointed from 01/02/2025 to 31/01/2029
Second term of appointment

Mr Brolly is a media professional with over 25 years experience working across high profile output within the areas of television and radio broadcasting, digital platforms, communications and marketing. He is currently Head of Creative for BBC Northern Ireland and a Board Member for the Belfast Marathon. He is a former Chair of the Golden Thread Gallery Belfast, and a former member of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Council Arts and Culture Advisory Panel. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Mr Joe Dougan

Appointed from 01/02/2025 to 31/01/2029
Second term of appointment

Mr Dougan’s background is primarily in the live music industry. He has been a key senior organiser of the Belsonic and Custom House Square outdoor music events in Belfast for over 12 years. He oversees venues such as The Limelight in Belfast and The Academy in Dublin, as well as internationally established electronic music brand Shine. He is responsible for an annual programme of live music and entertainment across Northern Ireland in a range of venues. He promotes events for Northern Irish musical acts and has prioritised developing new Northern Ireland musical talent. He also manages comedy and media talent, and produces live comedy events. These varied roles have given him an oversight of, and responsibility for, financial, audit and governance matters as well as procurement processing and budgeting. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Mr Ray Hall

Appointed from 01/09/2021 to 31/08/2025
First term of appointment

Mr Hall held the post as Head of Audit, Risk and Governance service in Cookstown District Council up to Local Government Reform in 2015 and had direct responsibility for health and safety, internal audit, and risk management. In 2015 on the formation of Mid Ulster District Council he was appointed as Corporate Risk and Safety Manager. Since 2018 he has been employed as the Southern Emergency Preparedness Group Resilience Manager. He has a longstanding interest in traditional music of all genres and was the Chairman of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) 2012-2021 and continues to sit on the Board. In March 2023 he was elected as a Director of The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, the parent body of RSPBANI. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Mr Sean Kelly

Appointed from 01/07/2024 to 30/06/2028
Second term of appointment

Mr Kelly has directed the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival since 2000, establishing principles of good governance, including strategic planning, risk management, financial management and fund raising. He co-founded the Black Box performing arts space formulating its business plan and adapting its business model to meet changing demand. He was one of the founders of Culture Night Belfast, which involved setting up a steering group and successfully seeking support from the business community and public funding bodies. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Mrs Laura McCorry

Appointed from 01/02/2025 to 31/01/2029
Second term of appointment

Mrs McCorry is Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, where she leads an expert team in the conservation, development, and management of the historic visitor attraction, whilst also ensuring the castle fulfils its role as Northern Ireland's official royal residence and home for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Prior to this, Laura held a variety of strategic leadership roles locally and internationally, including Public Engagement Director at National Museums Northern Ireland as well as Director of Corporate Development and Director of Product Development at Tourism Northern Ireland. Laura also worked in the United States for several years as Business Development Director for the inward investment agency responsible for foreign direct investment in Northern Ireland, as well as for the North of England Inward Investment Agency. Laura is a member of the Tourism Partnership Board that advises and makes recommendations to the Department for the Economy (DfE) in support of the development and delivery of a Tourism Action Plan. Laura is also a Board Member of Tourism Ireland. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Dr Gearóid Trimble

Appointed from 01/02/2025 to 31/01/2029
Second term of appointment

Dr Trimble is a senior public servant and currently works with Foras na Gaeilge, the North-South implementation body for the promotion of the Irish language, a role in which he has extensive experience in grant administration, corporate governance and budgetary management. With over 25 years' experience working with the Community and Voluntary sectors, both as a practitioner and as a policy-maker, he has overseen the implementation of national policies and island-wide public funding schemes. He holds a PhD in Irish Literature, is a published author and also a Research Associate with Ulster University. He sits on the boards of the following organisations: Creggan Local History Society, Gaelscoil na bhFál, Intercomm, Ring of Gullion AONB Partnership Board & Pobal an Chaistil Tta. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

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