Graham Sheffield is currently Director Arts for the British Council having taken up his new role May 9th 2011.  He is responsible for leading and developing the global arts policy and programme across the Council’s operations, with direct management of the London arts team.  He holds a position on the Council’s Executive Board reporting directly to the CEO

Graham was previously Chief Executive Officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong, leading the development of one of the largest arts infrastructures and programming projects ever envisioned. 

Graham was Artistic Director of the Barbican from 1995-2010.  He led the development of artistic vision, policy and strategy across the art forms in Europe’s largest integrated multi arts centre – music, drama, dance, cinema, spoken word and the visual arts.  He also led the marketing, new media and customer experience departments.

Under his directorship, the Barbican became one of the most innovative, dynamic and respected centres in the arts world, with an award-winning international programme. 

Partnership, producing and cross-arts programming were key elements of Graham’s arts strategy, as was an extensive creative learning and participation programme, now integrated with the neighbouring Guildhall School, focussed on families and adult audiences, as well as aspiring young professionals and practitioners.  There are major partnerships with inner city schools and other organisations in East London. 

Graham was Chair of the City Arts and Culture Forum, responsible for strategic coordination and policy for the City of London’s extensive arts portfolio, including its cultural plans for 2012 and beyond.  He was Chair of the Royal Philharmonic Society (2007-2010), and also consulted to the Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity in Toronto.

In 2009 Graham was appointed Advisor Arts and Creative Economies to the British Council, and joined the Advisory Committee for Index on Censorship.

He was awarded CBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours’ list for services to the arts.

Graham was Chair of ISPA, the International Society of Performing Arts from 2004 – 2006, a council member of Arts Council England, London (2002 – 2008), and was made Doctor of Arts by City University, London in 2004.  He was named as a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2005, alongside becoming a Chevalier de Tastevin de Bourgogne. 

Graham’s earlier career was as Music Director at the South Bank Centre and a Senior Music Producer at BBC Radio 3. 

In 2006 he led a winning Barbican team in BBC television’s University Challenge: The Professionals, and has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s flagship Any Questions programme.