Less than three months after launching Ealing Council’s cultural manifesto in April 2023, arts and culture manager Jan De Schynkel has left Ealing Council and gone east to join Newham-based Rosetta Arts as its new chief executive.
Under Mr De Schynkel’s leadership, as well as the cultural manifesto, he was also responsible for setting up Ealing’s Cultural Education Partnership and Ealing Arts & Culture Network.
Mr De Schynkel announced his leaving on LinkedIn. He said: “I am very proud of the significant change-maker job done over 3 years’ time: started as a one-person team with no budget – after 3 years: created a high-performing team of four and raised over £800,000; set up a Cultural Education Partnership from scratch; set up an Ealing Arts & Culture Network; collaborated on a successful Creative Enterprise Zone bid; launched a schools’ arts charter; launched the New Gen festival (a festival curated by and for youth); led on and delivered an ambitious Cultural manifesto; to name just a few achievements.”
He added: “Ealing will always have a soft spot in my heart; particularly the amazing creatives and arts organisation I had the pleasure to work with and will keep an eye out for. And I have to thank and will miss my brilliant team.”
Mr De Schynkel, who was at Ealing Council for nearly four years, takes over from Sanaz Amidi who was CEO of Rosetta Arts for the past 16 years.
Mr said: “Standing on the shoulders of founder Yvonne Humble, and the brilliant outgoing CEO, Sanaz Amidi, I am excited and humbled to pick up the baton as Rosetta Arts’ new CEO; to work with the board and team and continue the collaborative community focus for those who have little access to the rich and transformative benefits of the arts and education. I particularly look forward to further expanding the focus on creative wellbeing, environmental responsibility, the creative skills/jobs pipeline, and to supporting localised economic growth and pride in neighbourhoods.”
David Forrester, chairman of Rosetta Arts said: “Rosetta Arts is thrilled to welcome Jan as its new CEO. We are confident that under Jan’s leadership, Rosetta will continue to grow and provide even more transformative opportunities to the community.”
Tonya Nelson, London area director, Arts Council England said: “This is an exciting appointment for Rosetta Arts and one that will build on the strong leadership from outgoing CEO Sanaz Amidi. Jan has a wealth of experience in the cultural sector and I am confident that under his stewardship Rosetta Arts will go from strength to strength over the coming years – ensuring that local communities can continue to access inspirational and empowering creative workshops and experiences.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “We will be recruiting for the role.”
