Keith Bartlett MA FRSA FloL
Board Chair
Keith has over thirty-five years’ experience in higher education and the creative industries and provides consultancy in the areas of strategy, governance and management, organisational change and development. He is a Senior Associate in Advance HE’s strategic consultancy group and has led governance effectiveness reviews of a number of specialist and general HE providers, including the University of the Arts London, Arts University Plymouth, Arts University Bournemouth and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. He is also an executive coach with clients in senior leadership roles in higher education and the creative industries.
Between 1985 and 2001 Keith held a succession of roles at the [now] Arts University Bournemouth, initially as a Lecturer in Cultural and Historical Studies and ending with three years as Director of the School of Media. In this capacity he was responsible for the Bournemouth Film School and degree programmes in Film and TV, Animation and Photography. In 1999 the school was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for higher education for the film and animation industries.
From 2001 Keith was Deputy Principal at Norwich School of Art and Design, becoming Pro-Vice Chancellor (Quality) and Dean of Media when it was granted university title. He was appointed to lead two key developments at Norwich: firstly, academic development including securing Degree-Awarding Powers; and secondly, expansion of the school’s provision from fine art and design into new programme areas in media. Keith introduced new undergraduate and Master’s programmes in Games Art and Design, Animation, Film and Moving Image, and Photography. DAPs were secured in 2008 followed by university title in 2013. Between 2007 and 2014 Keith also oversaw the implementation of NUA’s research degree validation partnership with the University of the Arts London.
Keith was also Chair of the Board of Trustees of Cinema City in Norwich between 2002 and 2008. In this role he delivered a transformational redevelopment of Cinema City from a single 35mm screen to a 3-screen digital venue. To enable this, £4.5 million was raised in partnership with the Arts Council, East of England Development Agency, Picturehouse Cinemas, the City and County Councils, and Screen East.
Between 2019 and 2023 Keith was Chair of the Board of Directors of ThinkSpace Education, which specialises in online Master’s degrees in sound and composition for film, games and TV. Key priorities for Keith as Chair were establishing a new board, securing registration with the OfS, and development of ThinkSpace’s strategic vision with the CEO and Board.
Keith has been an independent external member of the board of BIMM University. Other governance roles have included: Non-Executive Director and Chair of Academic Board for London College of Contemporary Media, 2015-2018; Quality Strategy Network Executive Committee, 2005-08 and 2011-13; Norwich UNESCO City of Literature Steering Group, 2009-13; Screen East, Board and Audit Committee, 2007-10; Guild HE Research Network, 2008-11, and Quality Management Network, 2001-08; and the Association of Universities in the East of England, Steering Committee, 2001-11.
In his spare time, Keith enjoys cinema, TV drama, current affairs, family history, walking, and doing absolutely nothing.
