(Photo credit: The Glasshouse)

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music announced that after a decade, its CEO Abigail Pogson will depart the organization this autumn to lead Europe’s largest arts complex, the Barbican Centre, London.

Pogson has led The Glasshouse through a transformational period of growth, change, and impact, from championing artists and young people in the region, to guiding the organization through the pandemic and into a new era of artistic ambition. Under her leadership, The Glasshouse has become firmly woven into the region’s fabric, having contributed £1 billion to the local economy through its activity and opened the door to music for 1.8 million young people.

The Board has appointed Deputy CEO Fraser Anderson as Interim CEO for 12 months. Anderson has played a key leadership role at The Glasshouse alongside Pogson for five years. As The Glasshouse approaches its 21st birthday, Anderson’s charge is to focus on delivering four bold ambitions, including establishing a new Music Academy, new artistic partnerships and creative ambition, becoming the most affordable music centre in Europe, and to make an investment in the building itself.

Incoming Chair Andy Haldane CBE takes up his new position at The Glasshouse on Oct. 1 and will lead the Board search for a new CEO, alongside Deputy Chair Emily Cox MBE.

Haldane said in a press release, “Even before you step through the doors of The Glasshouse you feel the passion, belief, shared purpose, and warmth that Abigail has embedded in this organization. We are incredibly proud of the culture here, the broad range of opportunities for artists, and of the quality of experience for both musicians and audiences. In Fraser we are hugely fortunate to have a brilliant leader who has worked closely with Abigail for five years on the vision, direction, and delivery of our ambitions for The Glasshouse. Fraser brings us both continuity and embodies our culture in his work with the team. We very much look forward to working with him over this interim 12 months to take forward our ambitious program plans, investment in the building, and fundraising campaign.”

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