James Brindle, Executive Director of Magna Vitae, has joined the Board of Community Leisure UK as the new Culture Director.
James spent decades supporting and developing the county’s cultural offering before being appointed joint Executive Director of the Lincolnshire-based Charitable Trust for Leisure & Culture in 2020.
His cultural highlights include creating the SO Festival—a Summer of Inspiration—and partnering with the Royal Shakespeare Company to allow the local community to engage with some of the country’s finest cultural content.
Tens of thousands of local people in the district of East Lindsay have benefited from his cultural focus over the last twenty years, and he’s looking forward to drawing on that experience as part of his new board position with the National Members Association for Charitable Trusts and Social Enterprises.
James said: “Over the years, there have been many other cultural extravaganzas for which we have received international recognition, changed lives, and enhanced our local offer. I am personally and professionally very proud to work with great people and be part of a wider European network focused on cultural development.
James added: “Latest research shows that cultural consumption is good for your health and wellbeing. It has the power to alleviate pain, frailty, depression, and dependence on medication.
“And that is something I believe our sector has a huge role to play through the development of more cultural health programmes and the shift in people’s perception that culture is purely about entertainment.”
James replaces Heather Stuart, OnFife’s CEO, who stepped down from the Community Leisure UK board last year.
Phil Rumbelow, chair of Community Leisure UK’s Board of Trustees, said: “We’d like to thank Heather for her support over the last few years, her expertise was greatly appreciated by all the board.
“We’re also thrilled that James will be joining us. His commitment to culture and his wealth of experience is something we all believe can support our membership go on to even greater cultural heights.”
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