Interim Chief Executives to manage rich and vibrant film culture in the South East
Screen South, the Regional Screen Agency for the South East, has announced the appointment of joint new interim CEOs Sarah Dance and Chris Chandler as current CEO Jo Nolan has taken her maternity leave. Screen South can look forward to an exciting interim period with a packed activity programme. Leading Arts consultant Sarah Dance and long standing film cultural advisor Chris Chandler have been appointed as Joint Interim CEOs and together will bring their passion and expertise to maintain Screen South’s vision in supporting world-class filmmaking and a fast developing film culture throughout the South East. They look forward to maintaining its excellent record in supporting the development of award winning film making talent as well as the region’s growing passion for film.
Chris Chandler is a specialist on the public sector’s engagement with film and the creative industries. He has worked with a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector cultural organisations on the development of strategy, business planning and operational delivery. Formerly Head of UK Partnerships at the UK Film Council he managed partnerships with organisations including Regional and National Screen Agencies and First Light. He led on the creation of strategies for nations and regions, creative industries investment, film heritage, film education and audience development. Having started his working life as a stage manager and lighting designer in the theatre, Chris has worked in local authority arts management and for the BFI. Since then he has produced touring drama in north east and south east England.
Sarah Dance has more than 20 years experience of strategic and organisational development in the arts, film and the creative industries. She began her career working for Sam Wanamaker on the embryonic Globe Theatre project. She moved to the Mercury Theatre in Colchester and to the London Bubble before becoming Executive Director of the Exeter Northcott Theatre, one of the South West’s leading producing theatres. Becoming freelance in 2001, Sarah has provided strategic consultancy services to a wide range of arts and media organisations and regional bodies including Kent County Council, Culture South East (as Interim Executive Director) and Screen South. On behalf of the cultural agencies for the South East, she led the successful bid to the Legacy Trust for the Accentuate project, which she will be overseeing in its delivery phase as part of her role with Screen South.
