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The former editor of the Evening Standard Veronica Wadley has been appointed the London chair of Arts Council England, the mayor's office announced yesterday (10th June).
Jeremy Hunt, new secretary of state for culture, media, olympics and sport, approved the appointment following the unanimous recommendation of an independent panel. She will take up her role, for which she is paid £6,400 for up to 30 days' work a year, in due courses.
Boris Johnson said: 'Veronica Wadley is a hugely accomplished woman who has a proven passion for London and its unrivalled arts and culture.
"She will bring energy, drive and ambition to this vital sector that does so much for our quality of life in London and the capital's reputation around the world. I am delighted that she has agreed to accept the challenge.'
Wadley added: "We are living in a golden age of the arts, thanks to the huge investment by successive governments. We want to build on this, even in the face of financial pressures.
She added: "I am encouraged by the ingenuity and hard work that I have seen, both in the larger companies and at the grassroots. My task will be to ensure that we can support their excellence and innovation. I will do all I can to champion the arts in London, encouraging work of the highest quality at every level. I will work with ambition and caution."
Dame Liz Forgan, chair of Arts Council England, said: "Veronica's appointment means that our London and National Councils are finally at full strength, which is excellent news. We can now get on with the important job of supporting and developing the arts in London and the rest of the country.
"I am confident that Veronica's skills and commitment will help us address the many challenges and opportunities ahead as we move towards a tough Spending Review, the need to develop the resilience of our arts organisations in the capital and nationally, and the huge opportunities of the Olympic year."
But the appointment has not been universally applauded. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/29955a40-74f6-11df-aed7-00144feabdc0.html" target="_blank">As reported in the Financial Times, which described Wadley as a close ally to Johnson, her appointment had been vetoed by former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw last year, arguing it had not complied with rules on transparency.
He said: "The arts and culture world will be dismayed."
The paper also reported that former mayor Ken Livingstone claimed the job was a "payback" for the Evening Standard's support for Mr Johnson in the the 2008 mayoral election.