Claire Whitaker

Bid Director, Southampton City of Culture 2025

Claire has been appointed to take forward Southampton’s Bid for City of Culture 2025, working with Southampton’s communities, cultural organisations, businesses, and academic partners locally and in the wider Solent region. Previously, Claire Owner/Director, of live music producers, Serious, with over 25 years experience in executive and non executive positions. Claire is currently a Trustee of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Board member and governing body at Arts University Bournemouth, an Ambassador for the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board, is a member of the Arts and Creative Industries Advisory Group for the British Council, a committee member at Aster Group, is on the Music Education Advisory Committee for ABRSM.

Claire’s expertise ranges from the creation and delivery of ambitious arts events and programmes , to the development of strategic partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders. Claire is committed to supporting the development of creative talent and is passionate about enabling diverse audiences to experience music, arts and culture. Her extensive experience has helped Serious take its place at the centre of the UK’s cultural sector, with an impressive track record for the creative breadth and quality of its work.

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