Leicester cultural leader takes over at Arts Council England
Arts Council England has announced the appointment of Pawlet Brookes MBE as the new Midlands Area Chair in a move hailed as a major step forward for cultural leadership and diversity in the region.
Champion for black arts and heritage
Brookes is best known as the Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, a Leicester-based organisation dedicated to promoting Black arts, heritage and cultural equity both in the UK and internationally.
Under her leadership, Serendipity has grown into a National Portfolio Organisation for Arts Council England and a national leader in archiving and programming work that “makes the invisible visible.”
She also founded Let’s Dance International Frontiers, an annual festival that attracts global dance practitioners to Leicester, and has led major initiatives such as The Living Archive, preserving Black British arts and heritage for future generations.
A respected cultural voice
Brookes has served previously on Arts Council England’s Midlands Area Council, advising on policy and strategy across the region’s arts and cultural sectors. She is a frequent public speaker on equity, inclusion and representation in the arts, and was awarded an MBE for Services to the Arts and Cultural Diversity in 2022.
Her contributions have earned her multiple academic honours, including an Honorary Doctor of Arts from De Montfort University and Honorary Fellowships from both the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Falmouth University in 2025.
Driving regional creativity and growth
In her new role, which runs from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2029, Brookes will help shape Arts Council England’s strategy for the Midlands – supporting artists, institutions and communities from Birmingham to Leicester, Coventry and beyond.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP said the appointment reflects the government’s commitment to “ensuring the Midlands remains a powerhouse of creativity and innovation.”
The position, which carries an annual remuneration of £7,525, was made under the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. Brookes has declared no political activity in the past five years.
Shaping the future of midlands culture
As the region prepares for a new wave of cultural investment under the government’s Plan for Change, Brookes’ appointment signals a focus on inclusion, heritage and the economic potential of the creative industries.
Her leadership is expected to strengthen the Midlands’ growing influence on the UK arts scene – and ensure that its diverse voices, histories and communities remain at the heart of the nation’s cultural future.
