Former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal OBE appointed as Chair of The Lowry

12th September 2024: The Lowry, the flagship arts venue in the North of England, is today announcing that Nazir Afzal OBE, will be taking up the role of Chair from December.

Nazir Afzal has been appointed as Chair to guide the organisation into its next phase of growth in a challenged and changing world for the arts sector, while deepening The Lowry’s commitment to bringing arts and culture into the community.

Nazir Afzal’s career, as the former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England and Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners, has been defined by his protection of vulnerable people and advocacy for community, safety and humanity. These values are core to The Lowry’s DNA and Nazir’s experience will provide valuable insight to the leadership of the organisation as it seeks to welcome even more people from all backgrounds through its doors.

A Manchester resident, Nazir is now Chancellor of The University of Manchester. He is also Chair of the Catholic Church Safeguarding Standards Agency, Trustee of the WOW (Women of the World) Foundation and Patron of nine women led NGOs supporting victims of crime.

In his role as Chair, Nazir will ensure that The Lowry remains at the heart of a thriving cultural landscape in Salford, while elevating its position as a leading arts and cultural venue for Greater Manchester and the whole of the UK.

Speaking of his appointment, Nazir Afzal said: “What drew me to The Lowry is the innate sense of belonging it instils in the people that walk through its doors. I am blown away by the impact that The Lowry has on local communities and believe wholeheartedly in its potential to take this even further. My driving ambition as Chair is to find ways for even more people to experience that feeling of community. The Lowry is a much loved institution and it’s a great privilege to be a part of its next phase of growth as we reach its 25th year of operation.”

Nazir takes over the role from Sir Rod Aldridge OBE, who has dedicated over 17 years of service to The Lowry. During Sir Rod’s tenure the arts sector experienced unprecedented cuts in public funding and a global pandemic that shut theatres around the country.

Yet today, The Lowry is the most visited attraction in Greater Manchester, generating almost £90m in visitor spending in the North West and contributing £22.4m in social value through its community engagement programmes, while only receiving 6% of its income from public sources.

Julia Fawcett OBE – Chief Executive of The Lowry commented:

“We are thrilled that Nazir is taking on the role of Chair as we head into our 25th year. His life long advocacy for vulnerable and neglected communities aligns with our own mission to empower underserved and excluded people from all backgrounds to experience culture, creativity and connection on their own terms. Nazir has already made a fantastic contribution to the board in his role as Trustee and I know he will continue to do so in this next position.”

“I’d also like to thank Sir Rod Aldridge for his tireless dedication to The Lowry over an incredible 17 years. His steadfast belief in the power of The Lowry has steered us safely through any obstacle that we have faced.”

Sir Rod Aldridge OBE – Former Chair of The Lowry said:

“The Lowry has brought me so much joy over the years. To see the economic, social and personal impact that The Lowry has generated go from strength to strength, particularly given the challenging funding environment we face, has been astonishing. I look forward to watching the institution continue to grow and wish Nazir all the best as the next Chair of this inspirational place.”