The boss of Storyhouse in Chester has stepped down as chief executive, after 17 years leading the organisation.
Andrew Bentley has led the charity since 2005 and began working alongside Cheshire West and Chester Council to realise the vision for a theatre, library and cinema space in Chester – long before it opened its doors inside the former Odeon on Hunter Street.
Mr Bentley’s colleagues have praised him for successfully navigating Storyhouse through the Covid-19 pandemic, during which it remained connected with its communities.
He also received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours List, for his services to arts and libraries.
He said it had been a privilege to lead the charity, but he is ready for a change.
He said: “Together with my previous artistic director Alex Clifton and the team, we managed to build and create a true community space, a ‘third space’ outside home and work, and it is this I am most proud of.
“In any year, well over 1,000 individuals – communities, artists, practitioners – are involved in making work that accounts for over half of our turnover.
“We have empowered young people with industry-leading youth leadership, with meaningful influence and direct control over programmes, production, and governance.
“We seek to put communities in control and manage resources to empower those least likely to feel they belong.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the team at Storyhouse, and all our wonderful customers, creatives, city stakeholders and supporters for giving me one of the best working experiences of my life.
“My children have grown up in and around Storyhouse and it will continue to hold a very special place in myself and my family’s hearts.”
During his time in charge, Storyhouse has set out its stall as a significant regional arts charity.
It operates one of the most pioneering cultural buildings in the UK – which attracts more than a million visits per year.
Storyhouse is also an acclaimed producer of theatre and runs the country’s most successful regional open-air theatre, Grosvenor Park Open-Air Theatre, which Mr Bentley established in 2010 with Storyhouse’s founding artistic director Alex Clifton.
David Watson, chair of the board of trustees at Storyhouse, said: “On behalf of the board of trustees, I would like to sincerely thank Andrew for his outstanding contribution, and for leading the organisation with such energy, passion and resilience.”
Mr Watson said the charity was able to move forward with confidence and stability thanks to Mr Bentley’s leadership during the pandemic.
He said: “Andrew’s leadership has ensured Storyhouse has cemented itself as a beacon of inspiration for many other cities and towns for the role it has played in social and economic regeneration, its hugely successful and unique integration of world-class theatre, cinema and library facilities as well as its bold, exciting, diverse, and award-winning programming.
“His achievements during his tenure are vast, but perhaps most importantly, being bold and ambitious and unwavering in his purist view to realise Storyhouse to even begin with, and 17 years later, it now being one of the most successful, inspiring and important arts organisations in the country.”
Storyhouse will begin the search for his successor imminently.
