Gavin Stride takes over as David Bryan's 7-year tenure comes to an end

After seven years of committed and imaginative service, David Bryan CBE has stepped down as Chair of Creative Lives. David saw the organisation through its transition from Voluntary Arts to Creative Lives in 2021, and has been instrumental in re-focussing our strategy to work at greater depth in local areas across the UK and Ireland.

Following David’s departure, Creative Lives is delighted to welcome Gavin Stride as our new Chair. Gavin comes to us with over 30 years’ experience leading creative organisations. He has a proven track record in making and producing new theatre, fundraising, building partnerships and influencing policy, and is committed to extending the range of people involved in creative activity.

Gavin is currently establishing Creative Island as the cultural development agency for the Isle of Wight and as a new Arts Council England NPO. Previously he was Chief Executive of Farnham Maltings in Surrey, repositioning it as a creative organisation that supports performing arts and crafts across south east England. Gavin has been Chair of Wildworks in Cornwall, Crying Out Loud and the Independent Theatre Council, as well as serving on the south east regional council for Arts Council England and East Midlands Arts board.

Gavin Stride said: "Whilst I've made my entire career as a theatre maker, and supporting other people to do that professionally, it feels completely exciting to explore a more radical shift to how we ensure that everybody, whoever they are, is in touch with their own creativity.

"I would contend that you don't have to paint or draw or compose to be creative. Surely creativity is about being in the world, making sense of it and re-articulating it for yourself and others - and that's something we should be doing in order to live fulfilled lives. All of which feels central to the work of Creative Lives."

Robin Simpson, Chief Executive of Creative Lives said: "I first came across Gavin Stride in 2011 at a conference where he spoke about the value of “things people are prepared to do for free that they wouldn’t do if you paid them." Gavin's career has focussed on leading place-based creative organisations and he has been a prominent champion of everyday creativity for many years.

"He has extensive and wide-ranging experience but he also brings an inquisitiveness and mischievousness that will helpfully challenge Creative Lives as we enter the next phase of our development. I am really looking forward to working with him."

For more information about Gavin's work, please visit his website.