Heulwen Phillips appointed Project Director at Jazz Services Ltd.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Jazz Services Limited have announced that Heulwen Phillips is to be their new Project Director. Press release attached.

Press release:
Heulwen Phillips appointed Project Director at Jazz Services Ltd. 

26.01.15:

Jazz Services Ltd. is pleased to announce the appointment of Heulwen Phillips as Project Director.

This newly created role is at the centre of JSL’s on-going redevelopment activities.  Since the announcement was made last summer that Arts Council NPO funding would not continue beyond March 2015, JSL has been working fervently to ensure it remains a vital force for jazz in the UK beyond that point.

Over the coming months, Ms Phillips will be heading JSL’s mission to become a more focussed and efficient organisation that is better placed to work with and on behalf of the jazz scene.  JSL is also pleased to confirm receipt of financial support from Arts Council England to support the transition to a new operating model.

Ms Phillips comes to JSL with a wealth of expertise from across the arts sector, including strategic planning, organisational management, fundraising, marketing and more.  While JSL was fortunate to receive several excellent applications for the role, Ms Phillips clearly demonstrated that she has the experience and qualifications needed to immediately get to grips with the specific issues surrounding JSL’s situation and its future, as well as appreciating its place in the wider context of the UK’s modern arts funding landscape.

?The huge amount of feedback and support we have received from jazz musicians and others in and around the scene shows that Jazz Services has a really important role to play in the future as an independent force for jazz,? says Dominic McGonigal, Chair of JSL’s Board of Trustees.  ?We are at the heart of the jazz community and thrilled to have Heulwen join us, where she will be working with organisations inside and outside jazz to create a new programme of artist development and audience development.?

Speaking of her appointment, Ms Phillips said, ?Having followed Jazz Services’ work closely for several years, I’m very excited to be given the chance to help develop its future.  I firmly believe there is huge potential for this organisation to continue offering support and services that will be of huge benefit to the jazz community, and indeed the wider arts scene.?

In order to fully take advantage of the opportunities and resources available, JSL’s regular activities will be suspended from April onwards while the restructuring process takes place, and no funding schemes will be offered before the organisation re-launches later in 2015.

However, the renewed organisation’s activities will centre on artist and audience development, and as such JSL greatly anticipates being able to offer some exciting new prospects for supporting UK jazz professionals in the near future.

Jazz Services Ltd. is the UK’s foremost charitable support organisation for jazz music, promoting its growth, accessibility and development in the UK and abroad.  Services include advice, advocacy, communications, education, funding, information, marketing, publishing, research and touring.  Jazz Services is recognised as a committed campaigner providing a valued voice for jazz in the UK.  Jazz Services also publishes Gigs, a free monthly online listings guide to the UK’s live jazz scene.

Jazz Services works closely with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), which is an autonomous body that receives its Arts Council England funding through Jazz Services. NYJO also receives funds from private donors, Youth Music and the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund. Every year NYJO organizes over 100 open workshops for jazz musicians up to the age of 25 and more than 40 concerts.

Jazz Services gratefully acknowledges the support of Arts Council England and also the PRS for Music Foundation for their support on the Jazz Promoters Award Scheme.  http://www.jazzservices.org.uk