Andrew Dixon

Andrew Dixon started his career as administrator and youth projects director of the Major Road Theatre Company. After five years as an arts officer in Local Government he moved to Northern Arts, progressing to become its Chief Executive and was a member of the national executive team of Arts Council England for three years, before moving to his role promoting NewcastleGateshead as a world-class place to live, work, learn and visit.

As Chief Executive of Northern Arts, Andrew raised the profile of the region through advocating for, and finding partnership funding for large projects such as the Baltic, the Angel of the North and The Sage Gateshead. He also initiated the merger of three funded film agencies to create the Northern Film and Media Agency. When the regional arts boards became part of Arts Council England, he oversaw the merger of Northern Arts into the new organisation and took a national leadership role, designing the Arts Council’s Regional Lottery programme, and chaired its trading company which runs the ‘Own Art’ scheme.

As Chief Executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, he ran a public private sector partnership with 176 members, promoting cultural festivals and events and managing tourism and conference marketing for the ‘twin cities’.  He led the bid to host the World Summit on Arts and Culture in NewcastleGateshead in 2006 and was Programme Director for the summit attracting delegates from 70 countries to the North East. He has been a tutor and mentor on the Clore Leadership Programme. 

Andrew was voted Alternative Businessman of the year in 2005 for his public sector work in North East England and in 2008 received an honorary doctorate from Northumbria University.

Andrew has had various other non executive roles including Council of Durham Cathedral, Governor Gateshead College, Fundraising advisory board The Sage Gateshead, Development Committee Theatre Royal.

Andrew has been Chief Executive of Creative Scotland since May 2010.

Follow Andrew Dixon's blog at reflectionsonacreativescotland.com