Preparations for the 2012 Guild are gathering pace after Stella Hall, the Guild festival director began her post this week.
Stella has extensive experience in curating and running major festivals and events across a range of cities in the UK including, Manchester, Liverpool, Coventry, Newcastle Gateshead and Belfast.
Commenting on her appointment, Stella said:
“Preston is a great city and Preston Guild is a wonderful celebration and tradition. I am really looking forward to extending the reach of the Guild throughout the year and working with local people, businesses and community groups to develop a fantastic Guild programme for Preston. This is a tremendous opportunity and I hope the 2012 Guild will really help to raise Preston’s profile both nationally and internationally.”
This joint appointment involving Preston City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) was welcomed by Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council and Chair of the Guild Committee who said:
“This is an important and exciting appointment. Stella has an outstanding track record in delivering major festivals and events and she can bring lots of expertise and experience to Preston. We want 2012 to be the best Guild ever and Stella is exactly the right calibre of person that we need to deliver a wonderful Guild programme. It is an exciting time and we are looking forward to stepping up our preparations and focusing more on the 2012 Guild. We are very grateful to the North West Development Agency for their support.”
Sheldon Phillips, Head of Regional Major Events at the NWDA, said:
“Stella has impressive experience in developing exciting and unique major events. I am delighted she has agreed to take this position and confident she will deliver a Preston Guild in 2012 that the whole city can be proud of.
“This is an important event for Preston and the region and one which will bring significant economic and social benefits. This year it has even greater potential to benefit from the international visitors coming to London 2012 and to promote Preston and the Northwest at an international level."
Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Newcastle Gateshead Initiative said:
“Stella Hall has made a huge contribution in her 4 years in the region. She has been the creative director behind many of our successful events but has also built the capacity of event organisers and set up an important cultural leadership programme in the region. Stella is one of the top festival directors in the UK and will be a major asset for Preston.”
Background information
1. Preston Guild is a celebration held in Preston every 20 years, with the last Guild held in 1992.
2. The Guild tradition dates back over 900 years to the formation of a Guild in Preston which helped with the sale and trade of goods. Guild celebrations have been held in Preston since then.
3. Stella is currently the Creative Director of culture10 in North East England, based at Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, since 1995. There she has helped to develop and bring major festivals, concerts and events across that region. Stella’s previous appointments include:
- Founder of the greenroom in Manchester an organisation that helped to develop UK and international touring theatre, dance and music events
- Director of the Merseyside Festival of Comedy
- Director of the Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
- Director of Belfast Festival at Queen’s and Head of Arts and Culture at Queen’s University, Belfast.
4. Stella is currently a board member of LIFT – London International Festival of Theatre and has previously been a board member of the Royal National Theatre.
5. For further information about Preston Guild, please go to www.preston.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/guild-2012/
Date Updated: 11/01/10