Michelle Dickson

Michelle went to a comprehensive school in a small town in the Midlands, and after university, started volunteering and working at a theatre, Oxford Playhouse. She worked backstage and in marketing, and after a few months secured her first full-time job as an assistant to the directors. After spells in London working for The British Council and in regional commercial theatre, she returned to Oxford Playhouse, where she was programming and producing shows, and then led the organisation as Director and Chief Executive for 5 years.

In 2014, Michelle joined Arts Council England, the development agency and funding body for arts, museums and libraries. She was Director, Touring & Yorkshire for two years and then moved to her current role, Director, Strategy.

Michelle is currently working on the Arts Council’s next ten year strategy, which will determine how the organisation deploys its resources, including approx. £600m p.a. between 2020 and 2030