Raidene Carter as its new Artistic Director
Artsadmin announces that Raidene Carter (she/her) has been appointed as its new Artistic Director. Bringing a wealth of experience in cultural engagement as a creative producer and leader, she will join the organisation at the end of this month as Co-CEO alongside Executive Director, Ben Cooper-Melchiors.
Raidene Carter, incoming Artistic Director at Artsadmin, says: “I’m delighted and excited to be joining Artsadmin. I can’t wait to get started with the team to explore where I can complement everything already being achieved and create opportunities for newness and difference. I’ve always admired Artsadmin’s history, and its bravery to stand up for art of all kinds, but mostly that which leans into discomfort and plays around with what art is and what art is for. I think now couldn’t be a more relevant and appropriate time for us to use this bold legacy to bring even more people – artists, and the curious – together. Huge thanks to Artsadmin’s board, advisors, observers and staff, who have facilitated a thoughtful and care-full recruitment process from start to finish.”
Raidene has been developing collaborative and participatory artistic projects within hyperlocal, national and international contexts for over 20 years. She is currently based in Birmingham where she has been the Creative Director of Birmingham Festival 23 and previously Executive Producer for Birmingham 2022 Festival – the six-month cultural programme surrounding the city’s Commonwealth Games. Originally from Cardiff, she forged a career in London and Birmingham, at the Lyric Hammersmith, Talawa Theatre Company, Birmingham REP, the Albany in Deptford, where she was head of its creative programme, and Theatre Centre, where she was Executive Director and Joint CEO.
Raidene has excelled at nurturing the vision and growth of artists and young people, particularly through large-scale projects with deep links to communities of interest and place. At Talawa, working alongside previously Artsadmin-produced artist Mem Morrison, she reshaped its annual summer school to launch Talawa Young People’s Theatre and developed its Young Directors’ programme jointly with the Young Vic. At the Albany, Raidene developed groundbreaking partnership projects such as Meet Me at the Albany, its pioneering creative aging programme, and Circulate: London, a £1m outdoor arts touring programme for outer London neighbourhoods. She has co-commissioned the work of artists such as Kae Tempest and Belarus Free Theatre and advised Selina Thompson Ltd.
For Birmingham 2022 Festival she led a programme of 165 cultural projects, including 56 new commissions by the likes of Fierce, Eastside Projects and Stan’s Café, to reach more than 2.4m audiences and 10,000 participants. Notable projects include Critical Mass, a year-long inclusive dance programme for 240 young people with and without disabilities; Hew Locke’s Foreign Exchange with Ikon Gallery; Motionhouse’s Wondrous Stories; the festival’s opening event which played to 20,000 live audiences and a further 10,000 online; and Soul City Arts’ Waswasa, an exploration of faith and Islamic prayer. Raidene was made an Honorary Fellow of Central School of Speech and Drama in 2021 and is on the boards of Open Theatre and China Plate.
Raidene joins Artsadmin as Nicky Childs and Mark Godber finish their Joint Interim Artistic Director roles. Childs and Godber, both Senior Producers, have been interim leaders since former Artistic Director Róise Goan left in April 2023 to join Viernulvier as its artistic coordinator.
Jeremy Smeeth, Chair of Trustees adds:
“I am thrilled that Raidene is joining Artsadmin as our new Artistic Director. With her deep experience of creative producing and executive leadership, she is brilliantly placed to co-lead the next chapter in Artsadmin’s story. Raidene has co-created and produced many artists’ projects and has particularly strong experience working with communities. She is passionate about leading and supporting teams to grow, develop and achieve together. Artsadmin is a special place – creative, honest, kind and challenging. Its staff team is skilful, committed and passionate, and the artists it works with are bold and talented. We are excited to see what Raidene will bring to this vibrant mix, knowing that she will do so with vision, energy and care.”
Ben Cooper-Melchiors, Executive Director comments:
“I so look forward to working in partnership with Raidene. She knows first-hand the joys and challenges of nurturing artists and creating art at all scales. As evidenced by her work, she excels at creating shared meaning and inclusive connections in a world that needs it.”
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