New Arts Council member appointed by Welsh Government

Arts Council of Wales are pleased to announce that Welsh Government have appointed a new member of Council.

Jacob Gough was born in Aberystwyth and started his career at Aberystwyth Arts Centre as a technician. In 2007 he made his first journey to Palestine where he volunteered with a human rights group and worked alongside ambulance crews. After returning to Aberystwyth for a year he left his job and moved back to join ‘The Freedom Theatre’, an NGO in Jenin Refugee Camp specialising in theatre and media for young people. Here Jacob established a technical training programme for theatre and worked as their Production manager, managing all their productions and international touring.

In 2014 Jacob gained a Masters in Disaster Management. That same year after working as a freelancer for National Theatre Wales (NTW) he became their full-time production manager, he delivered some of NTWs most memorable shows including Mametz, City of The Unexpected and The Tide Whisperer. At NTW he was able to build on his passion for sustainability and access developing systems to enhance both.

In 2019 he left NTW to join Coventry City of Culture as Production Director, one of the SMT and in charge of delivery of the year long programme. As well as leading on production for the festival he also led the organisations work on sustainability.

July 2021 Jacob was asked to take up a senior role for Collective Cymru, becoming the Exec Director. Collective Cymru was a cross sector partnership brought together to bid and deliver a large-scale commission by Welsh Government as part of UNBOXED. The production GALWAD played out over 7 days at the end of September 2022.

With GALWAD over, Jacob has set up his own Creative & Production Consultancy company called Deryncoch, delivering consultancy and project management across a number of areas including operational systems and sustainability and his current clients include Leeds and Bradford Culture Trusts and Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru.

Appointed by the Welsh Government's Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, members are chosen for their expertise and experience of the arts in Wales. Members normally serve for a period of three years, although this can be extended for a another three-year term.

More information about our Council can be found here: https://arts.wales/about-us/our-organisation/council