HEY Creative Appoints City of Culture Champion as New Chief Officer

Something big is happening in the world of arts and culture across Hull and East Yorkshire. The organisation that champions all things creative in the region, HEY Creative, has just announced a new leader is taking the wheel. And it’s not just any leader. They’ve brought in someone who was right at the centre of one of the UK’s biggest cultural success stories, the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. This is a massive deal, and it signals an exciting new chapter for everyone who loves theatre, music, art, and history in this part of the world.

Image source: Lisa Mallaghan appointment

A new captain for the creative team

First up, what exactly is HEY Creative? Think of it as the manager of a football team, but instead of players, the team is made up of all the amazing creative people and places in Hull and East Yorkshire. It’s a cultural partnership, which means its job is to bring everyone together—from the big theatres to the solo artists, from museums to digital creators—to make sure the region's arts scene doesn't just survive, but properly thrives. This organisation is all about development and growth.

On March 20, 2026, it was announced that Lisa Mallaghan is stepping into the top job as the new Chief Officer. She’s taking over from the outgoing Chief Officer, Max May, and will be working with the team to steer the ship. Handing over the baton to someone with such a track record suggests HEY Creative is getting ready to level up. The appointment of Lisa is a clear signal of intent for the future of arts and culture in the region. This is about building on the strong foundation of heritage and creativity that already exists and pushing it into a new phase of development.

So, who is Lisa Mallaghan?

Lisa Mallaghan isn't new to this world. Not by a long shot. She has spent more than twenty years working on major arts programmes. Imagine planning a massive music festival or a huge outdoor theatre show with lights, sound, and hundreds of performers. She’s been the person behind the scenes making those kinds of epic-scale productions happen. Her experience isn’t just local; she’s been involved in creating successful national and international initiatives, connecting Yorkshire's creativity with the rest of the world.

Before joining HEY Creative, she held a really important role as the Executive Director of the Bradford Producing Hub. A "producing hub" is basically a support system for creative people. It gives them the tools, advice, and connections they need to turn their brilliant ideas into actual productions. It’s all about capacity development, a fancy term for helping people and organisations get better and stronger at what they do. And her work there was directly linked to something huge: the Bradford City of Culture.

Image source: Lisa Mallaghan appointment

The Bradford connection: a big deal for the arts

Being named the UK City of Culture is a bit like a city winning the creative World Cup. It puts a massive spotlight on the area, brings in visitors, and creates a real buzz. Bradford won this title for 2025, and Lisa was a key player in that success. The Bradford Producing Hub, which she led, was the official Capacity Development Strategic Partner for the whole event. This means her job was to make sure the local creative community was ready to shine when the world was watching. She was a strategic partner in a massive success story.

One of the standout projects she helped create was ‘The Bradford Way’. This was a £1 million arts initiative focused on a really cool idea: helping people become cultural entrepreneurs. Think of a talented painter who doesn't know how to sell their work, or a brilliant writer who wants to start a small publishing company. This project gave them the skills and support to turn their passion into a proper business. It was a perfect example of how to build a lasting legacy from a big event like the City of Culture, making sure the benefits are felt for years to come. This focus on nurturing cultural entrepreneurs is a skill she now brings to Hull and East Yorkshire.

What does this mean for HEY Creative?

Bringing Lisa on board as the new Chief Officer is a seriously smart move. She's not just coming with ideas; she's coming with proof that her methods work. Her experience in Bradford is like a blueprint for success that can now be adapted for Hull and the wider East Yorkshire area. The goal is to take all that knowledge about building partnerships, supporting artists, and creating massive events and apply it here.

Her main task will be to lead the organisation’s next phase of development. A key part of this will be building on cross-sector partnerships. This sounds a bit corporate, but it’s actually a really simple and powerful idea. It means getting the arts world to team up with other areas, like local businesses, tech companies, and tourism boards. Imagine an app that gives you a historical tour of an East Yorkshire village, combining local heritage with modern tech. Or a local food festival that features live music and art installations. That's what cross-sector partnerships are all about, and they are vital if the culture and arts scene is going to thrive.

Looking ahead: a thriving future for local culture

This appointment is fantastic news for anyone who cares about the creative soul of East Yorkshire. With Lisa Mallaghan leading the charge at HEY Creative, the future looks incredibly bright. The focus will be on making sure the amazing arts, culture, and heritage of the region are celebrated and supported. The partnership aims to ensure every creative person and organisation has the chance to grow.

This is about more than just putting on a few good shows. It’s about building a strong, confident, and connected creative community. It’s about creating jobs for cultural entrepreneurs, making Hull and East Yorkshire a place where artists want to live and work, and ensuring the local heritage is preserved and shared through exciting new productions and international initiatives. The experience Lisa brings from her City of Culture work in Bradford is a massive boost for this ambitious vision. It’s a new era for HEY Creative, and it’s going to be exciting to watch it unfold. The whole region's arts scene is set to thrive under this new leadership.