Liverpool Arab Arts Festival Appoints Sioned Jones as New CEO and Artistic Director
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) has announced the appointment of Sioned Jones as its new Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director, as the organisation prepares to celebrate 25 years since its first festival.
Jones brings almost 30 years of senior-level experience in the not-for-profit sector to the role, having previously served as CEO of women’s rights organisation The Circle, founded by Annie Lennox, Director at the Tax Justice Network and Deputy Director at Oxfam GB.
Alongside her executive experience, she has held a number of trustee positions and currently sits on the boards of three charities. These include Chester arts centre and creative hub Storyhouse, where she chairs the Development Committee and sits on its Artistic Impact and Finance committees.
Jones is also a trustee of Magic for Smiles, which works with refugee children in several Arab countries and the UK through magic shows and workshops, and Child to Child, an organisation specialising in children’s participation.
Speaking about her appointment, Jones said: “I am absolutely delighted and thrilled to be joining LAAF, the UK’s longest-running annual Arab arts and culture festival, whose mission, to educate, challenge and engage communities in Arab arts, culture and heritage across the UK and internationally is one I feel incredibly passionate about.
“It is a real honour to have the opportunity to work with the Board and team, our partners, artists, funders and communities to build upon LAAF’s reputation and credibility for showcasing the richness of Arab art and building communities.”
Afrah Qassim, Chair of Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, welcomed the appointment, saying: “The Board are thrilled to appoint Sioned as CEO and Artistic Director at LAAF. She comes with a wealth of experience in all aspects of working in partnership and leading organisations.
“Coupled with her passion and knowledge of the power of arts and storytelling to connect, share experiences, grow understanding and preserve and build new cultures, we look forward to this next chapter in LAAF’s journey and warmly welcome Sioned to the organisation and Liverpool.”
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival was formally established as an organisation in 1998, with the first festival taking place in 2002. It has since grown to become the UK’s longest-running annual festival of Arab arts and culture and remains the country’s only annual multi-artform festival of its kind.
Through its programme, LAAF champions artists and creatives from the Arab region and its diaspora while using arts and culture to encourage greater understanding and appreciation between communities.
The appointment comes ahead of an important milestone for the organisation, with 2027 marking 25 years since the first Liverpool Arab Arts Festival took place.
