A senior museum executive has been appointed as the new head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the West Midlands – overseeing grant applications of up to £2 million and more.
Reyahn King, who previously worked at Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery and has more than 20 years experience in museums and galleries, has taken on the role.
Based in Birmingham at HLF’s regional office for the West Midlands, she will oversee a team of ten administering heritage grant applications to the Fund from £3,000 to more than £2 million.
She said: “I love the diversity of people and places in the West Midlands and am delighted to return to work for the HLF here. I like making a difference and that is what the HLF does all the time for heritage through strategic support and advocacy.”
Ms King takes on the role after a five year stint as director of art galleries at National Museums Liverpool from 2007 to 2012.
Prior to that, she was a head of interpretation and exhibitions at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery and museums development manager at Coventry Arts & Heritage.
She read Modern History at Oxford University and has a Masters in History of Art from Boston University in Massachusetts.
Outgoing head of the West Midlands, Anne Jenkins, who held the post for nearly 10 years, has recently been appointed as deputy director of operations at the Heritage Lottery Fund and is now based in their London offices.
She said: “It has been a privilege to have spent 10 years with the Heritage Lottery Fund in the West Midlands.
“It has been a period of considerable change for the heritage sector but I think that we have helped to support some wonderful projects in that time ranging from the Town Hall in Birmingham through to Hereford Cathedral Close and lots of smaller community based projects which have helped people to explore their own local history and develop a range of skills.
“I wish Reyahn all the best in her new role and hope that she enjoys it as much as I have.”
