Eastern Angles announce new Chair
Eastern Angles has appointed Lee Walker as its new Chair of the Board, as the regional touring theatre company and arts centre looks ahead to an exciting new chapter.
Lee is Chief Executive Officer of Ipswich Central, the Business Improvement District for Ipswich town centre and waterfront. He brings extensive experience in place-making, regeneration, strategic leadership and partnership working, alongside a strong belief in the role that culture and creativity can play in shaping successful places.
Before joining Ipswich Central, Lee spent ten years working across the place-making sector. He was Director of The Nottingham Project, where he championed culture and creativity as important drivers for the city’s regeneration. During this time, he was involved in the reimagining of Nottingham’s Broad Marsh alongside designer Thomas Heatherwick.
Since returning to his home town of Ipswich, Lee has continued to champion the contribution that culture, creativity and heritage can make to communities. He has spoken regularly about the importance of an empowered cultural and creative sector and its ability to make a tangible difference to the places in which people live and work.
Lee’s appointment comes at an important time for Eastern Angles. Alongside its work at the Eastern Angles Arts Centre in Ipswich, the company continues to develop its role as the touring theatre company for the East of England, creating and producing new work rooted in the people, places and stories of the region while continuing to build its national profile.
Jake Smith, Artistic Director and CEO of Eastern Angles, said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Lee as Chair of Eastern Angles. Lee understands instinctively that the arts are not an addition to thriving communities, but an essential part of how we build them. He understands the role culture can play in nurturing ambition, resilience and pride in place, and his experience across regeneration, partnership and place-making will be enormously valuable as we look towards the next chapter of Eastern Angles.
“I also want to pay enormous tribute to our outgoing Chair, Alison Stewart. Alison’s commitment to Eastern Angles has been incredible. Her precision, calmness and counsel have been of the utmost value to me personally and to the organisation, and I am incredibly grateful for the generosity, care and leadership she has given the company. She leaves with our enormous thanks and with Eastern Angles in an exciting position for its next chapter.”
Alison Stewart MBE, who is stepping down as Chair, said:
“It’s been an honour and a delight to be involved with Eastern Angles, its Board and its staff. Working with creatives of this calibre has been an inspiring experience. I am confident that Lee will provide strategic leadership to the company at an exciting time.”
Lee Walker said:
“The work of Eastern Angles has never been more important, taking stories that inspire and challenge to the heart of communities across the county. Jake and the team are incredibly talented and in succeeding Alison, I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Lee’s experience brings together strategic leadership, place-making and a strong understanding of the relationship between culture, communities and place. At Ipswich Central, he has focused on improving and promoting Ipswich, supporting local businesses and championing the town’s culture and heritage as part of its wider regeneration.
He succeeds Alison Stewart as Eastern Angles begins work on its next five-year strategy and looks towards its 45th anniversary in 2027.