New boss of Tottenham arts centre named

Bridget Banton has been appointed chief executive officer of Bernie Grant Arts Centre

Bernie Grant Arts Centre and (inset) new boos Bridget Banton

Tottenham charity Bernie Grant Arts Centre (BGAC) has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer.

Bridget Banton is taking the helm as the centre approaches its 20th anniversary and Haringey’s year as ‘London Borough of Culture’ in 2027.

Bridget will be “guiding the centre’s creative and strategic vision”, while “building on Bernie Grant’s legacy”.

A creative and strategic leader, Bridget’s 25-year career spans television, publishing, digital media and youth culture. She has held senior leadership roles at Channel 4, Paramount, BBC, Penguin Random House, and Nike’s Girl Effect, and founded Dear Creative Gurl, a consultancy supporting mission-driven organisations with storytelling and content strategies.

Known for “championing diverse and emerging voices”, Bridget is said to have led “transformative television commissioning and shaped multi-platform storytelling that resonates with young audiences and wider communities”.

Her broader sector contributions include long-standing membership within the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (Bafta), including as part of the Bafta Membership Council, trusteeship as a board governor of the London Museum, and fellowship at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

Bridget’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for BGAC, which is London’s only black-led combined arts venue. The centre has been going through financial difficulties over the past year but is now aiming to build a “sustainable income base” to secure the centre’s long-term future.

Bridget said: “The Bernie Grant Arts Centre is more than just a venue: it’s a space where creativity, community and culture intersect. To be invited to lead this next chapter in its story as the CEO, feels humbling – and a real privilege.

“My background as a creative leader is in media, content and storytelling, but the common thread has always been purpose: serving and connecting with audiences.

“Over my career I’ve worked across sectors, geographies and platforms, forming partnerships that bring different communities and creative disciplines together. I hope to bring that experience to the Bernie Grant Arts Centre and build upon the legacy already in place.

“I believe the future of creativity lies in co-creation and collaboration: rooted in community, operating across disciplines, and embracing technology and innovation. Presenting itself in a hybrid offering that traverses physical spaces and digital platforms, where people can meet in real life, share ideas, experiment, grow – and most importantly create.

“The Bernie Grant Arts Centre is one of those rare spaces: rooted in Tottenham and born from its community and culture, yet connected to a wider, global creative ecosystem. Bernie Grant was a trailblazer whose vision still feels fresh. I look forward to working with the team to keep his light burning strong, and to collaborating with partners and audiences who share our values: in Tottenham, across London, around the nation and within the diaspora.”

Banton succeeds Azieb Pool, who stepped down earlier this year after more than six years as artistic director and CEO.

Geoffrey Williams, chair of trustees at BGAC, added: “Bridget is a force of nature. Throughout the process, we felt she brought the energy and focus that Bernie Grant Arts Centre needs to thrive as a modern and sustainable arts and community centre.

“As she takes ownership of steering this charity into its next chapter, I am excited to see the vision she brings and how the community rallies around her. Just as we at BGAC already have.”

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