HEY Creative has appointed experienced arts leader Max May as Chief Officer to drive new cross-sector collaborations across the region’s creative sector.
Max joins HEY Creative with a focus on developing creative partnerships spanning business, education, health and the public sector. A well-known figure on the Yorkshire arts and culture scene, he currently serves as Strategic Director at North Yorkshire Together and was previously CEO at Rural Arts, where he helped shape and steer the county’s creative and cultural sectors. His appointment marks a significant step in our mission to embed culture at the heart of the region’s economic and social success.
A proven leader
Max’s academic background saw him study theatre in Glasgow, before completing an MBA at York Business School. His career started in theatre general management, before joining Rural Arts and then North Yorkshire Together. In his new role, he will champion the region’s creative sector both nationally and internationally.
“I’m thrilled to be taking on a role at the heart of the region’s cultural sector. I’ve always felt passionately that culture and creativity can make everyone’s lives better. Having those more central in peoples’ lives and in decision making can help us all live healthier, happier lives.
“A big focus for me is to champion the region’s creative sector both nationally and internationally. In my recent career I’ve been really focused on the importance of cross-sector collaboration, bringing together the public, private and third sectors and showcasing how creativity is vital in all areas of life, and I’m looking forward to doing the same with HEY Creative.” Max May, Chief Officer
Leadership and board perspective
Dominic Gibbons, Chair of HEY Creative, said “Max’s background and what he has already achieved in the creative sector meant he was a perfect fit for what we were looking for. He is a strategic thinker and has a proven track record of bringing different people and organisations together in a collaborative way. HEY Creative is about getting people to think about creativity differently… instilling a culture of creativity in a business enables it to approach challenges differently and unlock new growth opportunities. Max’s appointment means we can plan ahead at HEY Creative with confidence and apply some of the ideas we’ve had into real-world situations.”
Regional Endorsement
The appointment has been welcomed by local authority leaders as a key step in the region’s development:
- Cllr Nick Coultish (East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Cabinet member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism): “This council is delighted to work with HEY Creative and I very much welcome Max’s appointment. This is a very exciting era for the arts and culture in the East Riding and we look forward to working with Max and the team to develop our innovative plans across the region.”
- Cllr Rob Pritchard (Hull City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture): “Max’s appointment is a great next step for HEY Creative and will support culture and creativity in the region at this exciting time. As the strategic lead for HEY Creative, Max will look to engage businesses on the value and contribution culture to makes to the economy and to the wider community.”
Get in touch
To learn more about our strategic plans for the region or to discuss potential cross-sector collaborations, contact the HEY Creative team at info@hey-creative.co.uk.