Hull City of Culture recruits 2012 Olympics mastermind as chief executive

THE man behind the 2012 Olympics Ceremonies will be the chief executive of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.

Martin Green will lead the team led by chair Rosie Millard and says he intends to deliver an inspirational, ambitious artistic programme that will put Hull on the map before, during and after 2017.

Hull was awarded the title in November and is set to spend £18m on more than 1,500 events in 2017.

Green said:  “I’m here because it’s Hull. With its great cultural heritage and its ambition to use culture to transform perceptions of the city and the lives of local people, Hull embodies what being UK City of Culture is all about.

“As chief executive, I want to bring together the best local, national and international talent to deliver an inspirational, ambitious artistic programme that will put Hull on the map before, during and after 2017.

“It is a huge opportunity that I am determined will deliver a lasting legacy for the city and I am absolutely delighted to be part of the team.”

Detailed planning of the 2017 programme is expected to start early in 2015.

Green will now move to Hull having masterminded this summer’s opening ceremony of the Tour De France Grand Depart in Leeds as executive producer, working alongside Welcome to Yorkshire.

From 2007 to 2012, Green was head of ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He recruited Danny Boyle and the other artistic directors to the ceremonies and hand-picked many of the artists, production and back-of-house teams that showcased the best of British culture to the rest of the world. 

Rosie Millard said: “Martin is exactly the kind of person we had in mind for this role, right from the start.

“We needed someone who had not only run high-profile events on a huge scale, but who also had that rare talent for identifying and conveying the true qualities of a place, the quirks, the strengths, the passions that have developed through generations to give a place its unique character.

“Martin did exactly that for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics. He assembled and led a team that turned visions into reality and captured the imagination of the whole world.

“I can’t think of anyone more suited to doing the same for Hull.”

Coun Steven Bayes, Hull City Council portfolio holder for City of Culture, added: “Appointing a chief executive of Martin Green’s calibre makes a very clear statement about our plans for 2017 and beyond.

“Hull is on the cusp of a new era, with arts and culture at the heart of our efforts to lift the city into a position where we can create more jobs, more opportunities and more prosperity.

“We’ve known for some time that this is an exciting time for Hull. In Martin, we have the right person to help us tell the rest of the world.”

Peter Aarosin, chair of the Bondholders marketing organisation which promotes Hull and the Humber, hailed the appointment of Martin Green as “a huge statement of intent”.

He said: “Martin Green’s appointment is a huge statement of intent to deliver a truly spectacular and unforgettable City of Culture year in Hull. He has been instrumental in delivering events which have captivated the world and now he is bringing his extraordinary talents to Hull.

“Hull has set its sights high with its ambitions for the City of Culture year and has recruited the best of the best to deliver an extraordinary year-long extravaganza which will showcase the city to the world and drive cultural and economic regeneration.

“Martin Green’s appointment is also significant in that it demonstrates very publicly that Hull and the Humber can compete successfully for world-class talent. The award of City of Culture and the unprecedented investments we are seeing from Siemens and others have highlighted the great economic opportunities within the region, coupled with outstanding quality of life. The region is now becoming a serial winner in the competition for investment, jobs and talent.

“Following Rosie Millard’s appointment as chair of the City of Culture company, Hull now has two individuals with outstanding credentials at the helm. Having such impressive leadership in place at such an early stage will give great confidence that Hull is serious about delivering a truly world-class cultural celebration.”