The Gane Charitable Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Leah Collier as its new Chair, marking a significant milestone as the first woman to hold the position in the Trust’s 72 year history.

A lifelong Bristolian with more than 20 years’ experience working across culture, education, and community development, Leah brings together a passion for creativity with a strong track record of bringing people and organisations together to create positive change.

Leah’s own relationship with the arts began at school, inspired by her performing arts teacher. That early spark developed into a lifelong belief in the power of creativity to open up opportunities, bring people together and make communities stronger.

After studying Social Science and training as a youth leader and educator, Leah went on to study Business Management and Science at the University of the Arts London, and while studying in London, she developed a clear ambition: to bring the tools and approaches of business and management back to the creative communities of her home city, Bristol.

Her appointment as Chair combines her track record of leading complex community programs, partnerships, and organisations with a deep personal commitment to Bristol’s independent creative culture. Leading the Trust at a pivotal moment, she will work alongside the trustees to build on its longstanding support for creative talent while placing diversity and equity at the forefront. Under her leadership, a core priority will be identifying new ways to maximise grant funding and to diversify both participation and investment in the arts, to open doors for individuals facing economic and structural barriers in the creative industries. 

Leah Collier, Chair of The Gane Charitable Trust, said:

“I am honoured to become Chair of The Gane Charitable Trust and particularly proud to be the first woman to hold this position.

I care deeply about Bristol’s creative communities and feel incredibly privileged to be in a position where I can support life changing investments in creative people. Grants from the Gane Trust can give artists the confidence to develop their skills, the opportunity to take transformative steps in their career, or the resources to turn a creative ambition into reality. At the heart of our work is a commitment to supporting creativity to ensure our communities become happier, more connected and inspiring places to live. 

I look forward to working with our trustees, partners and communities within Bristol and the South West to build on our creative achievements, and to ensure the Trust’s work continues to have a meaningful and lasting impact on creative people.”

About The Gane Charitable Trust

The trust was originally established in 1954 by modernist furniture maker and philanthropist Crofton Gane, to support design, craftsmanship, and social welfare across the Bristol area. 

Today, The Gane Charitable Trust supports people who face economic and structural barriers to participation in the creative industries. Through grant-making and partnerships, the Trust aims to create greater access to opportunity and enable creative practitioners to develop their work, careers and creative potential, in Bristol and the surrounding counties.