Birthday Honours bring awards for arts professionals

Howard Panter, co-founder of Ambassadors Theatre Group with his partner and wife Rosemary Squire, is knighted in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, while Director of Tate Sir Nicholas Serota has been made a Companion of Honour – an award currently held by only 41 other people. Also receiving a Knighthood is Director and Chief Executive of Edinburgh International Festival, Jonathan Mills. Other arts professionals honoured in this year’s list include Jeanette Siddall, who was the first full-time Director of Dance UK and Gailene Stock, Director of the Royal Ballet School, who both receive CBEs for services to dance. Outgoing Executive Director of the National Theatre, Nicholas Starr, also receives a CBE for services to theatre. Tony Heaton, Chief Executive of Shape Arts, is given an OBE for services to the arts and the Disability Arts Movement, as is Founder and Director of DV8 Physical Theatre, Lloyd Newson, whose OBE recognises his service to Contemporary Dance, and Cindy Sughrue, Chief Executive and Executive Producer of Scottish Ballet, for services to dance. MBEs are awarded to Suzanne Bull, Chief Executive of Attitude is Everything for services to music, the arts and disabled people, to Christopher Jaeger, Founder and Chief Executive of Worcester Live, for services to the arts in Worcestershire, and to Judith Merrill, Artistic Producer of Travelling Light Theatre Company, for services to Children's Theatre.