The Corn Exchange Newbury has announced a change in its leadership as Grant Brisland, Director and CEO, will be taking a two year sabbatical from January 2020.
Grant Brisland joined the Corn Exchange in 2013 as General Manager and has been a Director since 2015. Katy Griffiths, who was Director of the Corn Exchange from 2011 to 2017, will return to lead the organisation during this period. Since leaving the Corn Exchange two years ago, Katy has worked as Deputy Executive Director at the Mercury Theatre Colchester.
Grant Brisland says, ‘I am enormously proud of everything the Corn Exchange has achieved over the last six years and I feel hugely fortunate to be taking a short break in the sunny climate of Australia. Whilst I am away I will be able to reflect on our many successes, including the recent Save Your Corn Exchange fundraising campaign and the 10th anniversary of our outdoor events, but I will also have the headspace and time to think about the future of the organisation too.’
Katy Griffiths says, ‘I am delighted to be able to return to the Corn Exchange while Grant is on sabbatical. It is nearly 10 years since I first joined the team, and looking back it is incredible to see how Grant’s leadership has helped transform the organisation during this time. It is a real privilege to be coming back to oversee the next stage of the Corn Exchange’s journey.’
Grant Brisland added, ‘The support of our funders, stakeholders, audiences, participants, staff and volunteers, enables the Corn Exchange to thrive and under Katy’s leadership I am confident we will continue to go from strength to strength.’
Grant and Katy will work together during November and December ahead of Grant’s departure at the beginning of next year.
The Corn Exchange continues to present a busy programme of live events in its 400 seat auditorium as well as a year-round film programme in its 40 seat cinema. In February 2019, the Corn Exchange worked in partnership with Greenham Trust to open a new visual arts and crafts centre, The Base Greenham, which now hosts high profile touring exhibitions as well as resident artists. In October, the Corn Exchange celebrated ten years of presenting free outdoor events with Fire Garden – a three-night fire installation created by French artists Carabosse. Its 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Centre hosts residencies for companies from around the country and abroad as they rehearse and create performances for festivals both in the UK and further afield, as well as presenting CPD courses and workshops for outdoor artists and makers.
The Corn Exchange Newbury is supported by Arts Council England and Greenham Trust.
