Virginia Tandy, Director of Culture for MCC is to leave the authority

Virginia Tandy, Director of Culture for Manchester City Council, is to leave the authority.

Having been Director of Cornerhouse from 1994 - 1997, she originally joined the authority in 1998 as Director of Manchester City Galleries. She oversaw the multi-award winning £35m expansion and refurbishment of Manchester Art Gallery. Since its re-opening in 2002, Manchester Art Gallery has established itself as the country's leading regional art gallery through an ambitious programme of historic and contemporary art exhibitions, often inspired by its outstanding collections.

Within the museums world she has successfully led a programme of innovation and transformation across the North West, and in Manchester established and chaired the Manchester Museums Consortium, enabling the city's major museums to work collaboratively on bringing more national and international visitors to the city, while also working together on high quality, nationally acclaimed learning programmes. She also established the national network for women museum directors.

More recently, in her role as Director of Culture, she has worked with key figures in the cultural and creative sectors, locally and nationally, to define the city's cultural ambition and champion culture's importance to the city's economy. She has established new relationships with major regional and national funders to secure valuable additional resources to enhance the cultural life of the city for residents and visitors. She is widely recognised as a leading figure in the arts and heritage sectors and has held a number of important national roles, including President of the Museums Association, and is currently a Trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund. In 2009, she was awarded an OBE for services to the arts.

Virginia Tandy said, "Having worked in the city in a range of roles over the last 25 years, I hope that the contribution I have made to the cultural life of this city is of lasting benefit, and enables its continued success in the current challenging financial environment. It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to work with the inspirational and resourceful people in the city's cultural sector and to play a significant part in the growing reputation of Manchester as a world-class cultural destination."

Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure, Councillor Mike Amesbury said: "Virginia has made a valuable and significant contribution to Manchester's cultural development. Her passion for the arts has helped establish Manchester on the world's cultural stage. We wish her every success for the future."