Darren Henley OBE

Darren Henley OBE is chief executive of Arts Council England. His two independent government reviews into music and cultural education resulted in England’s first National Plan for Music Education, new networks of Music Education Hubs, Cultural Education Partnerships and Heritage Schools, the Museums and Schools programme, the BFI Film Academy and the National Youth Dance Company. Before joining the Arts Council, he led Classic FM for fifteen years.

He holds degrees in politics from the University of Hull, in management from the University of South Wales and in history of art from the University of Buckingham. A recipient of the British Academy President’s Medal for his contributions to music education, music research and the arts, his books include The Virtuous Circle: Why Creativity and Cultural Education Count (2014), The Arts Dividend: Why Investment in Culture Pays (2016) and Creativity: Why It Matters (2018).

The Guernsey Literary Festival is an ambitious and exciting celebration of all that is great about books and writing - and it has the added bonus of being located in a beautiful location.