Brighton Festival and Dome boss to step down

Andrew Comben is to leave after 16 years running Brighton Festival and Dome

The head of one of the largest arts festivals in the south-east of England is stepping down after 16 years.

Andrew Comben is leaving his job as chief executive of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival (BDBF) to take on a role at Britten Pears Arts.

Mr Comben established the guest-director model for the month-long annual cultural event – England's largest curated multi-arts festival - according to a BDBF spokesperson.

He said his time in Brighton had been "the most enjoyable, mind-stretching and challenging of my career".

Under Mr Comben's leadership artists such as Anish Kapoor, Laurie Anderson, Lemn Sissay and Frank Cottrell-Boyce have guest-directed Brighton Festival.

A spokesperson said he had "developed a vision for the organisation as a year-round centre of artistic activity, involving all areas of the community".

Brighton Festival is one of the biggest cultural events in the south-east of England

BDBF reaches a combined annual audience of more than 650,000 and is a major contributor to the local economy, the spokesperson said.

The £38m redevelopment of Brighton Dome’s historic Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre was recently completed.

Mr Comben said: "It is a wrench to be leaving this great city but I am confident Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is just at the start of an incredibly exciting creative adventure and can’t wait to see what it produces next."

BDBF said it will launch the search for a new chief executive shortly.

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