Arts & International Affairs: 2.3: Autumn/Winter 2017 | Page 9

THE BRITISH COUNCIL AND THE POWER OF THEATRE 1
GRAHAM SHEFFIELD CBE
Graham Sheffield has been Global Director Arts for the British Coun-
cil since 2011. He is responsible for leading the worldwide arts strat-
egy and programme across the British Council’s 116 country opera-
tion. From 1995–2010 Graham was Artistic Director of the Barbican
Centre in London. Under his directorship, the Barbican developed into
one of the most innovative, dynamic and respected arts centres, with
an award-winning international programme across the arts spectrum.
In the last six years he has driven a major expansion and reshaping of
the arts programme at the British Council, defining a new vision, de-
veloping new arts specialists in the global network, planning major ex-
tended seasons of work in Brazil, China, Qatar, India, Mexico, Nigeria,
Russia, Korea an d South Africa, as well as responding ambitiously to
social and political change in the Middle East, Gulf, North Africa and
South Asia. Under Graham’s leadership, the arts programme has grown
in size and impact, and has attracted significant investment and partner
funding: to launch a Cultural Skills programme, expand the work with-
in the Creative Industries sector, develop a digital arts programme and
refresh and enlarge the British Council’s internationally renowned Art
Collection—a vital contributor to work overseas in cultural relations.
A recent development is leading a £30m Cultural Protection Fund on
behalf of the ministry to help protect important world heritage sites un-
der threat. Also, he has introduced the Council’s first ever post in com-
puter games. Graham graduated in Music from Edinburgh University
and worked as a Radio 3 producer at the BBC for 12 years on classical
music, opera, features and documentaries. From there he moved to the
Southbank Centre as Music Projects Director for 5 years, founding the
world-renowned Meltdown Festival in 1993. He also served as CEO of
the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong in 2010. He was Chair
of the Royal Philharmonic Society (2007–2010), and consulted to the
new Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity in Toronto. From 2004–
2006 Graham was Chair of the International Society of Performing Arts
and a council member of Arts Council England, London (2002–2008).
In 2014 Graham took up a new role as Chair of the UK’s largest music
charity, Help Musicians UK and joined the Board of Rambert. He was
awarded CBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours’ list for services to the
arts and was made Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the
1
Editor’s Note: This is an edited version of the speech delivered by Graham Sheffield for the opening of
the National Taichung Theater, Taiwan on 1 st October 2016.
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doi: 10.18278/aia.2.3.2