Farooq Chaudhry. Photograph © Jean-Louis Fernandez
The Board of Trustees of Tate is delighted to announce that Farooq Chaudhry has been appointed a Tate Trustee. The appointment, which has been made by the Prime Minister, began on 29 July 2019 for a period of four years. By statute at least three of Tate’s Trustees are practising artists. Chaudhry replaces Stephen Witherford, whose term came to an end in June 2019, and joins current artist Trustees John Akomfrah and Jane Wilson.
Former dancer Farooq Chaudhry is co-founder and Producer of Akram Khan Company, playing a key role in forming innovative business models to support Akram Khan’s artistic ambitions as well as offering creative support during the development of Khan's projects. Chaudhry is a witness of the School for Social Entrepreneurs and on the advisory board of Global Future. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged him in a list of the world's top hundred cultural actors and entrepreneurs in 2008. In addition to his work for Akram Khan Company, Chaudhry is also International Creative Producer for China’s national dance icon Yang Liping since 2016 and was Producer for English National Ballet from 2013 to 2017. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University for his services to dance in 2014. In 2018 Chaudhry became the course consultant for the new MA Dance Producing and Management at London Studio Centre and became the Co-Artistic Director of PECDA (Prakriti Excellence in Contemporary Dance Awards) in India. In 2019, Chaudhry was awarded an OBE for his services to Dance and Dance Production.