Ian Blackwell - General Manager, The Flavel
Ian Blackwell - General Manager, The Flavel
Ian Blackwell - General Manager, The Flavel
Talking to By The Dart, he said, “It’s great to be here as I’ve always been really impressed with The Flavel’s diverse programme of events. It has a brilliant reputation, with so many sold out shows across all genres, and a great team of staff and volunteers making good things happen.
“The role of General Manager is quite a complex and interesting one. I am responsible for the successful running of the building (including day-to-day maintenance and health and safety), making sure the staff are happy and the visitors and audiences have a good time.”
Ian works closely with Sarah, The Flavel’s Artistic Director who is responsible for the centre’s bookings, and Lisa, the Programme and Marketing Manager.
He took over the reins from John Severn, who had been in post for five years. Since the summer Ian has overseen a number of great events, including cookery demonstrations during last month’s Food Festival and the Indoor World Rally Championships – with five large Scalextric runs set up in the main hall.
As a company with charitable status, The Flavel is governed by a board of trustees. Ian reports to a monthly management committee, which guides and oversees the centre’s operation.
Ian, aged 43, lives in Totnes with his wife Sarah, who works in arts and heritage, and two young daughters. They have an older son studying at university in Brighton. Ian is a town councillor for the Bridgetown ward of Totnes.
He comes to The Flavel with a rich portfolio of work spanning 20 years in art galleries and museums. As Director of Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum, he has recently overseen the building’s £1.1 million facelift. The museum reopened in May this year, as part of the Teign Heritage Centre, with a huge increase in visitor numbers.
Ian also works as a freelance Heritage Consultant and has been involved in many projects, including a community engagement strategy with the Museum of London and a national science project with the Natural History Museum.
He said: “I’m interested in how people interact with their local town and passionate about bringing people into cultural venues. A lot of my work is about how venues need to listen to different people, to make the experience more valuable and worthwhile for everyone.”
Ian grew up in the village of Abbotskerswell. He attended Newton Abbot’s Coombeshead College before graduating from the University of Liverpool with a degree in History and French. He then went to France and Italy to teach English, including running his own language school in Brittany.
On his return, he studied an MA in Heritage Management at Newcastle University. After a period of voluntary work for the National Trust he became Project Manager of an archaeological project based in North Wiltshire. Their project was the first major excavation to be digitally archived; they also produced a book that was short-listed for an archaeological award.
Ian then worked for Tyne & Wear Museum and was part of the team that developed the layout and integration of the Segedunum Roman Fort museum in Wallsend – voted one of the top ten museums in Europe.
Then, for six years, Ian was Head of Access, Learning and Skills at Museum, Libraries and Archives North East (part of the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport). As part of the senior management team he gave advice and support to the twelve North East local authorities on their libraries, museums and archives.
He said: “I worked with the Arts Council and local authorities, giving advice to the Government Office for the North East on what museums and libraries can offer. We were also working to raise the standard of the sector.”
Throughout his time in the North East, Ian regularly returned to South Devon with his family. Six years ago they decided to move to Totnes to be closer to family and for a different quality of life.
And they’ve certainly found the life they came for. All the family are hearty allotment growers and Ian is the brains behind the excitingly titled “Dangerous Dads”. He set up the group for dads and their children to get together for fun and adventures. Four years on, the group has more than 100 members and has organised over 50 events, including apple juice making, canoeing on the Dart, wild cooking and camping. Ian is also a keen juggler and regular at the Totnes Juggling Workshop.
He is really enjoying working in Dartmouth – a town he has known for many years.
He said: “I have friends here and Dartmouth has been a part of my life since a child.
I’ve been out on the river many times, dressed up for New Year’s Eve and watched my brothers taking part in Regatta sailing events. I’m really enjoying being at The Flavel and being part of the life of the town.”
Website: www.theflavel.org.uk
First Published November 2011 By The Dart