Reappointments to the Board of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, has reappointed Sean Kelly and Lynne Best as Board Members to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Board from 1 July 2024 until 30 June 2028. They have both served on the board from 1 July 2020.

The Arts Council has a key role to play in developing and improving the knowledge, appreciation, and practice of the arts, and increasing public access to and participation in the arts. It is also responsible for the distribution of Lottery grants. Its statutory functions are set out in The Arts Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. It is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Communities.

Notes to editors: 

1. Member positions requires a time commitment of approximately 11 days per annum. These positions are unpaid. However, travel and subsistence allowances are payable in line with NI Civil Service rates.

2. These reappointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s (CPA NI) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, CPA NI requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Any relevant details are provided in the below biographies.

3. Biographical Details:

• Lynne Best: Lynne is Managing Partner of Fourth Pillar, a corporate and financial Public Relations company which specialises in the business of music. She was previously Head of Communications for the music licensing company PPL and Director at Well Red Music and Media, which provided corporate communications and policy advice to a range of global media and music companies. She is the former Vice-Chair of the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast and Chair of the Board of the Americana Music Association UK. She was inducted into the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour in 2020. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
   
• Sean Kelly: Sean has directed the Cathedral Arts Festival since 2000, establishing principles of good governance, including strategic planning, risk management, financial management and fund raising. He co-founded the Black Box performing arts space formulating its business plan and adapting its business model to meet changing demand. He was one of the founders of Culture Night Belfast, which involved setting up a steering group and successfully seeking support from the business community and public funding bodies. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

4. Media enquiries via email to DFC Press Office.

5. Follow us on Twitter @CommunitiesNI

6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

Share this page