Press Releases

3 September 2002

 

Jonathan Drori Is To Be First Director Of Culture Online

Jonathan Drori has been appointed as the Director for Culture Online, the Culture Department announced today.

Jonathan Drori is currently – and will remain - Managing Director of Thoughtsmith Ltd, a media, education and culture consultancy, and is a former Head of Commissioning and Editorial Director for BBC Online (1999-2001). He has considerable experience of establishing digital services for education, including websites and interactive programming, and was Head of Digital Media and Learning Channels at BBC Education (1996-1999).

Jonathan Drori said:
" I am very excited by the prospect of leading the delivery on Culture Online. It’s a wonderful project. Not only does it have the potential to enhance our relationship with the nation’s cultural heritage, but we might also foster some really unusual and worthwhile partnerships between groups that might not otherwise have worked together. I strongly believe that by using new techniques we can inspire and motivate children and adults to take part in – and become part of – their culture and heritage in new and creative ways.”

Arts Minister Tessa Blackstone added:
" Jonathan Drori is the ideal person to lead the creative decision-making, and commissioning of projects and content which will make Culture Online exciting and vibrant. I look forward to seeing Culture Online projects as they begin to go online in 2003."

Notes to Editors

1. Jonathan Drori will take up his appointment early next month. He will recruit a small team to support his work on Culture Online and will report to Alex Stewart, Director of Arts and Culture. He will be part of the Senior Civil Service at the DCMS. The Director’s role is expected to become part-time after the initial set-up period.

2. Jonathan Drori’s previous roles include Head of Digital Media and Learning Channels for BBC Education where he was responsible for establishing their digital services for education, their first website and the BBC’s first interactive programmes. During this time he had a team of up to 120 people. He was also Head of Commissioning for BBC Online between 1999-2001, responsible for a commissioning team working across most of the BBC’s genres. He has experience of working with Government on the Creative Industries Task Force, and as a Trustee of the 24 Hour Museum, and of the private sector with Thoughtsmith and as a Managing Director of Scient, a digital business consultancy, and of private/public partnerships from his time at the BBC.

3. At the DCMS he will be responsible for a team of approximately six people, and will work closely with staff throughout the Department to deliver the high level objectives of Culture Online.

4. Culture Online has £13m funding for 20-30 projects which will increase digital access to the nation’s cultural heritage. Projects will unite the abilities of cultural organisations and the private sector, including broadcasters, education professionals and those on the cutting edge of digital technology, to create innovative, high quality resources for adults and children. The Director will be responsible for selecting and commissioning projects, for overall management of the programme and for monitoring and evaluating the success of the projects.

5. Culture Online is an integral part of the DCMS e-business strategy, which in itself is a response to the Government’s commitment to the UK Online programme. This programme aims to ensure everyone who wants it has access to the Internet by 2005 and that all Government services are online by that date and to make Britain one of the leading knowledge economies.

6. For more information on Culture Online please see the website www.cultureonline.gov.uk
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