A Note from the New Director of the NRTF – Holly Lombardo

Dear NRTF Members and Associates,

It is an absolute honour to be taking on the role of Director of your organisation.

A bit about me – I have worked in creative industries at a senior level for over 16 years. I founded the Brighton Fringe in 2004, managing it to become the 3rd largest Arts Fringe Festival in the world. I was a senior manager at the Edinburgh Fringe Society and Director of an Edinburgh Fringe venue. I have worked within some of the UK’s largest international Festivals. In 2007 I pooled my knowledge of the creative sector to found World Fringe Network, which links over 230 Fringe Festivals across the globe. As well as this I have lectured Universities on event & business management. I was an Assessor for the Arts Council England, where one of my assessments was the NRTF and I have been an Executive Trustee of the British Arts Festival Association for 8 years. I was recently Project Director for Wooden O Theatres and have just left my position as the Artistic Director of Fusion Arts Oxford.

Throughout my career one tread has remained; my passion for networking and generating platforms for creative development, linking up and facilitating opportunities for artists and audiences. I am ambitious and can see the wider picture for national and international cultural tends and am comfortable liaising with cultural leaders.

I realise I have big shoes to fill and a 20-year legacy to uphold as Director of the National Rural Touring Forum, a success I plan to build on. I’m excited to get started, meeting as many of you as possible and getting to know the organisation and everyone involved.

Until then – very best wishes

Holly Lombardo