Manchester Seeks New Culture Chief as Dave Moutrey Retires After Four Decades
Manchester City Council has launched a search for a new Director of Culture and Creative Industries as long-serving cultural leader Dave Moutrey prepares to retire after more than 40 years shaping the city’s arts scene.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Manchester’s cultural landscape, Moutrey will step down in the coming months, bringing to a close a career that has spanned theatre, film, visual arts, and major international cultural initiatives.
The council has described the vacancy as one of the most significant roles in the UK cultural sector, with the successful candidate set to lead Manchester’s creative vision at a time of continued growth and global recognition.
Moutrey began his career in 1984 as Theatre Manager at the Abraham Moss Centre before going on to lead Arts About Manchester Ltd, where he played a key role in promoting the city’s cultural offer. In 1998, he became Director and Chief Executive of Cornerhouse, guiding its evolution into HOME Manchester, the city’s internationally recognised hub for theatre, film, and contemporary visual arts.
In recent years, he has held senior roles within the city council, including a six-year secondment before formally taking up the Director of Culture and Creative Industries post in 2024. During this time, he has been instrumental in embedding culture into wider policy areas such as regeneration, health, education, and economic development.
His tenure also saw Manchester strengthen its global cultural standing, including becoming the UK’s first member of the international Music City network, leading the city’s presence as Guest City at Barcelona’s La Mercè Festival, and securing major events such as WOMEX and the ISPA World Congress. He also contributed to successful bids bringing both the BRIT Awards and MOBO Awards to the city.
A strong advocate for culture-led regeneration, Moutrey has overseen projects such as the development of the Wythenshawe Culture Hub, aimed at placing arts and creativity at the heart of local communities.
Speaking about his decision, Moutrey said he now plans to focus on writing, with his first book—exploring arts centres across the UK—already in progress.
Manchester City Council said the search for his successor will focus on finding a “world-class” leader capable of building on his legacy and steering the city’s cultural and creative industries into their next chapter.
