Elan Closs Stephens Joins The Board Of The Film Agency For Wales

Elan Closs Stephens CBE has joined the Board of the Film Agency for Wales and used the first meeting of the new Film Foundation Forum, hosted by the Film Agency, to encourage the various factions of the education sector to work together to realise the benefits that film education can bring to all aspects of society.
She chaired an open consultation on proposals from the Film Agency for Wales for its revised strategic vision, including discussion around the British Film Institute (BFI) and UK Film Council UK-Wide Film Education Strategy Review that is currently in process.
Professor Stephens commented: “In this post industrial society, arts are becoming increasingly important. There are some very exciting opportunities to be seized here in Wales, specifically within education. We must now work together to create sustainability; to ensure the delivery of first class learning opportunities and to promote the benefits of film education.
“As a Film Agency, we must engage with the public and with education. We should consider collateral partnerships and develop a strategy that takes advantage of the new initiatives that already exist and the opportunities that lay ahead.”
A member of the BFI Education Committee since December 2000 and appointed to the Board of the BFI in October 2001, Stephens is now a Governor of the BFI. She also chairs the Advisory Committee of the British Council in Wales and is a Trustee of the main Board representing Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Stephens recently oversaw the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales Arts Review, under Alun Pugh, which undertook to take a wide ranging review of the existing funding arrangements for the arts, including the role of the Arts Council of Wales, and looked to a possible future framework for funding and the devlopment of access and inclusion to the arts, tackling social inequalities.
Her appointment to the Board of the Film Agency for Wales has been welcomed by Chairman, Peter Edwards: “We are the sole Agency for Film in Wales. Our remit is to ensure that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented in Wales, the UK and the World. In particular, our education strategy seeks to address and maximise the benefits of film education, which included improvement of general literacy and communication skills, and social engagement, which have life long benefits. At the Film Agency we consider that access to film and film education should be a cultural entitlement available to all.
“Elan’s appointment further strengthens our Board and we are delighted that she accepted our offer to join the team.”
The Board of the Film Agency for Wales consists of Peter Edwards, Chairman, Sybil Crouch, Vice Chairman, Angharad Evans, Stephen Cleary, Nerys Lloyd and Ynyr Williams. Pauline Burt is Chief Executive.
The Film Agency for Wales is funded by the Arts Council for Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and the UK Film Council.
(DS/SP)