Geissendorfer appointed Jerwood Charitable Foundation's new director

Lilli Geissendorfer has been appointed the new director of the Jerwood Charitable Foundation, which provides funding for the arts, including through the Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowships.

The foundation, which previously ran the Fiction Uncovered literary prize until its cancellation in 2016, also provides grants for the White Review Poets Prize, and runs the Jerwood/Arvon Mentoring Scheme, the next anthology of which work will be launched in June 2018.

Geissendorfer, whose background is in theatre production, has previously worked as a producer at the Almeida Theatre and as a relationship manager for theatre at Arts Council England. She also co-produced the first HighTide Festival in 2007, ran the film and theatre producing company Strawberry Vale Productions and co-founded Londoners on Bikes, a pop-up cycle safety campaign for the London 2012 Mayoral election.

Geissendorfer was found after a "rigorous search" for a new director following Shonagh Manson's decision to step down after eight years in the role. Manson joins the GLA and the Mayor of London, heading up the culture and creative industries unit in the new role of assistant director for the Culture and Creative Industries.

Taking up the post at Jerwood Charitable Foundation from 22nd January, part of Geissendorfer's work in her new role will be dedicated to shaping the next four year strategy for the Jerwood Charitable Foundation (2018-2022). It will set out how the organisation will continue to support the work of early-career artists and producers across art forms nationally, developing strategic relationships around the programme.

Geissendorfer commented: "I am so looking forward to joining such an interesting and influential team at a time when Jerwood Charitable Foundation's mission feels more vital than ever."

Between now and January the organisation is led by deputy director Jon Opie, with the support of the Jerwood Charitable Foundation Board of Trustees. 

Two trustees have recently joined the board:  BBC filmmaker Vanessa Engle and editor of The Lawyer Catrin Griffiths.