14/6/2022

Freedom Studios announce Interim Directors, Dermot Daly and Mark Hollander

Freedom Studios have appointed Dermot Daly as Associate Artistic Director (pictured right) and Mark Hollander (left) as Interim Executive Director. Recruitment for a new Artistic Director will take place over the Summer.

Anj Handa, Chair of the Board of Trustees said, “The Board of Trustees is excited to have engaged such talent during this important stage of Freedom Studios’ transition. Mark and Dermot bring expertise and enthusiasm and we look forward to working with them as we collectively lead the company into the next chapter.”

Previous Freedom Studio’s Associate Artist and Director of Aaliyah (After Antigone) our most recent 2021 production, Dermot Daly, commented:
“Freedom Studios is a company that lives its values. Over the previous seven years those values and mission of the company have been absolutely at the heart of everything that Alex Chisholm and Aisha Khan achieved. With Executive Director Mark Hollander and the wider company I hope we can hold true to this and keep the company at the forefront of the cultural scene in Bradford and beyond, ready to move into the future with confidence.”

Mark Hollander comments:
“I’m so pleased to be working as interim Executive Director for Freedom Studios alongside Dermot Daly as Associate Artistic Director. My relationship with Freedom Studios goes back many years and I am excited to be a small part of its future, following the excellent leadership of Aisha Khan and Alex Chisholm, and with such a wonderful offer for the burgeoning creative life of Bradford.”

Mark’s most recent appointments include Executive Director for Phoenix Dance Theatre and Executive Director for Leeds Culture Trust (Leeds 2023). He will continue his work as a freelance arts consultant, coach and mentor, alongside acting as Interim Executive Director at Freedom Studios.