Max SteventonMusic Venue Trust (MVT) has added Jane Beese and Chris Prosser as co-chairs ahead of what it describes as a critical year.
Beese has been an MVT trustee since 2023. She hosted Venues Day 2014 at Southbank Centre and Venues Day 2016 at The Roundhouse during her leadership roles at each organisation.
Prosser is a founding member of MVT’s board and previously served as chair between 2014 and 2019. He recently became interim co-chair, with the announcement formalising his position.
Heliocentric Entertainment’s Phyllis Belezos has stepped down as co-chair but will remain a trustee.
MVT has also appointed a new trustee, Madeleine Blyth, programme leader for Platform Places, making her the charity’s 16th trustee.
The board changes come as MVT prepares to publish its annual report in January, described as its most extensive research to date, covering more than 800 grassroots music venues.
Beese said, “I have believed in the mission of MVT since day one, and I’m delighted to be stepping into this leadership role at such a critical time. The challenges are significant, but so is the determination across this organisation to protect and grow the UK’s cultural foundations.”
Prosser said, “Our grassroots venues remain under extraordinary pressure, and MVT’s role in supporting and defending them has never been more vital. I’m honoured to return to a co-chair role at this critical moment, working alongside Jane and the rest of the board to push for the long-term solutions and policy interventions the sector urgently requires.”