Welcome to our new chair
We are delighted to announce that Tania Mahmoud is D6’s new chair following fond farewells to Ros Rigby.
Tania, who has been a member of D6’s Board of Directors for three years, begins her new role as Chair of the Board this February 2024.
Tania brings many years of international experience working in cultural relations at the British Council. She is currently part of their Geographic Directorate, where she provides strategic leadership for the overseas network in East Asia and the Americas. Previously, she covered countries including Ukraine, supporting colleagues through security and geo-political crises. Prior to this, she worked as Cities Programme Lead, working closely with cities across England on developing international strategies for culture.
She has been a team-lead on equality, diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on decolonisation and anti-racism, and sat on a cross-sector anti-racism action plan board.
Tania started her career in the education, arts and museum sectors. She is also a trustee for Unlimited Theatre.
Tania says: ‘I’ve always admired the work of D6 and am continually inspired by the quality and depth of thought that goes into every programme, research project and residency. Our small but high performing team are incredibly thoughtful and unique in their working style – combining deep consideration and intellectual rigour, with compassion, generosity and an openness to learn and evolve. We are supported by some fantastic artists and partners – locally and internationally – who, together with our team, are the absolute bedrock of what we do.
‘It’s a privilege to be playing a more active role in the governance of D6, alongside an exciting new cohort of board directors who will be announced in the coming weeks.
'I’d also like to take this opportunity to give our deepest thanks to Ros Rigby. It has been a real pleasure working alongside her for the past three years and myself and the wider team are enormously grateful for everything she has done for D6 and our sister organisation D6:EU.’
Tania succeeds Ros, who joined as chair in 2019. Ros helped guide the organisation through Covid-19. A highlight during this difficult time was when, between lockdowns, the team and volunteers converted an unused office into a meeting and studio space to expand its residency programme for artists whose practice has been disrupted by forced migration.
Ros supported the establishment of D6’s sister organisation, D6:EU, in Cyprus to develop new opportunities for artistic exchange between Cyprus, Europe and the Middle East and to enable collaborations to continue after Brexit.
She also generously shared her connections to and knowledge of the North East’s culture and heritage, welcoming Ukrainian artists and curators to the Land of Oak and Iron for research residencies, and community participants with artist Henna Asikainen.
Ros says: 'It’s been a privilege to support D6 and see it flourish despite the challenging funding environment. The organisation has learnt so much in the bold and creative move to launch D6:EU, and is now a source of advice to other cultural organisations in international opportunities and mobility. I know it will continue to thrive under the leadership of Tania. '
Find out more about D6’s Board of Directors here.
Tania, who has been a member of D6’s Board of Directors for three years, begins her new role as Chair of the Board this February 2024.
Tania brings many years of international experience working in cultural relations at the British Council. She is currently part of their Geographic Directorate, where she provides strategic leadership for the overseas network in East Asia and the Americas. Previously, she covered countries including Ukraine, supporting colleagues through security and geo-political crises. Prior to this, she worked as Cities Programme Lead, working closely with cities across England on developing international strategies for culture.
She has been a team-lead on equality, diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on decolonisation and anti-racism, and sat on a cross-sector anti-racism action plan board.
Tania started her career in the education, arts and museum sectors. She is also a trustee for Unlimited Theatre.
Tania says: ‘I’ve always admired the work of D6 and am continually inspired by the quality and depth of thought that goes into every programme, research project and residency. Our small but high performing team are incredibly thoughtful and unique in their working style – combining deep consideration and intellectual rigour, with compassion, generosity and an openness to learn and evolve. We are supported by some fantastic artists and partners – locally and internationally – who, together with our team, are the absolute bedrock of what we do.
‘It’s a privilege to be playing a more active role in the governance of D6, alongside an exciting new cohort of board directors who will be announced in the coming weeks.
'I’d also like to take this opportunity to give our deepest thanks to Ros Rigby. It has been a real pleasure working alongside her for the past three years and myself and the wider team are enormously grateful for everything she has done for D6 and our sister organisation D6:EU.’
Tania succeeds Ros, who joined as chair in 2019. Ros helped guide the organisation through Covid-19. A highlight during this difficult time was when, between lockdowns, the team and volunteers converted an unused office into a meeting and studio space to expand its residency programme for artists whose practice has been disrupted by forced migration.
Ros supported the establishment of D6’s sister organisation, D6:EU, in Cyprus to develop new opportunities for artistic exchange between Cyprus, Europe and the Middle East and to enable collaborations to continue after Brexit.
She also generously shared her connections to and knowledge of the North East’s culture and heritage, welcoming Ukrainian artists and curators to the Land of Oak and Iron for research residencies, and community participants with artist Henna Asikainen.
Ros says: 'It’s been a privilege to support D6 and see it flourish despite the challenging funding environment. The organisation has learnt so much in the bold and creative move to launch D6:EU, and is now a source of advice to other cultural organisations in international opportunities and mobility. I know it will continue to thrive under the leadership of Tania. '
Find out more about D6’s Board of Directors here.