Phil George, Chair of Arts Council of Wales welcomed the news:
‘We were delighted at the Arts Council of Wales by the news that our distinguished former Chief Executive Nick Capaldi has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. For 13 years, Nick led the Arts Council with integrity, passion for the arts, forensic intelligence, and a skilful approach to partnerships with Welsh Government, local authorities and public bodies across Wales. He was everywhere! His attendance at arts events across the nation was so committed and engaged.
In recent times, he led our gifted and dedicated staff in an agile and highly effective response to the urgent needs of the arts sector during the pandemic. He worked incredibly long hours and was constantly available. And he made a personal commitment to responding to the important challenges which emerged from the Black Lives Matter and We Shall Not Be Removed movements. He was eager for change and for greater fairness in access to the arts and to arts funding across the communities of Wales. We are now working to make that real, which would be his own most cherished legacy.
He has been honoured with an OBE and we honour him for a career of extraordinary service.’