This December marks 10 years since the sudden passing of Chris Hornby so we wanted to reflect on the wonderful legacy that has been created in his name.

Chris sadly passed away unexpectedly at the age of 43 whilst working at the Lyceum Theatre as Resident Director of The Lion King in December 2014.

Chris performed in many West End shows, including Starlight Express, Anything Goes, Billy Elliot and Guys and Dolls. Chris also worked as a successful director, choreographer, dance captain and actor.

Chris was much loved in the industry and was passionate about supporting young and upcoming talent. As a former ArtsEd student and bursary recipient himself, Chris knew the vital role that bursaries play in a young person’s journey into the performing arts industry and in widening access to drama training.

Chris’s bursary had a big impact on his life and all those he went on to meet.

The Chris Hornby Fund was set up in 2015 as a lasting legacy that will help talented students at ArtsEd facing financial hardship.

The first Chris Hornby Bursary Scholar Jacob Thomas, graduated in 2020, completing his BA in Musical Theatre.

Jacob Thomas said:

“The support I have received not only financially but emotionally from Tim and the Chris Hornby bursary has been a crucial factor in my development and completing my degree. This has been a life changing opportunity that would not have been possible without the bursary. I am so excited to see where my career takes me, and to make Tim and Chris proud.”

The bursary has since supported four other scholars into the industry, Maria Connelly, covering and playing Christine in the European Tour of Phantom of the Opera, Ria Tanaka, touring the UK in Chicago after performing in two West End Shows, Bella Brown, playing one of The Fates and covering and playing Eurydice in Hades Town and Asher Forth, as Green Arrow and covering and playing Rusty and Electra in Starlight Express.

The current bursary scholar is Deshawn Gordon who is busy rehearsing for Sister Act after having great success as Jack in Into The Woods at ArtsEd.

We are all extremely grateful for the continued generosity of our supporters, Chris’s family and friends and for the continuing support from Chris’s partner, Tim English.

The wonderful thing about Chris’s fund is that the vital financial assistance is accompanied by invaluable personal support, in the form of Tim’s expert mentoring and encouragement. We would really love to be able to continue this connection in years to come, supporting the next generation of performers and story-tellers.

If you would like to help us remember Chris and keep the bursary going, then please make a donation today. Every donation will make a difference, enabling future students to thrive and keeping Chris’s legacy bright.

Make a Donation to The Chris Hornby Bursary Fund

A statement from Tim English:

 “Chris was a great advocate for younger performers and seeing our scholars shine warms my heart and comforts me that his death has not been in vain.
I’m determined that the Chris Hornby Bursary should continue to provide funds and mentoring for as many students as we can. Everyone with a dream to perform deserves a little help.Thank you for your continued, love and support and honouring Chris’ memory. It’s hugely appreciated.

Lots of love,

Tim English”

In the interest of settling a long-standing disagreement, the Board of Trustees has prepared the following public statement.

Matthew Bulmer joined ArtsEd as Headteacher in January 2022, at a time of significant upheaval and uncertainty. He worked hard to champion the Day School and Sixth Form (DSSF) and his dedication, vision, and hard work was much appreciated by Trustees.

Matthew performed all the duties expected of a Headteacher, prioritising the needs of students and parents, and his contributions had a considerable impact on the DSSF. On arrival, he successfully filled the school with new pupils within a short timeframe, enabling a strong start to the school year. This accomplishment was highly valued by the Board of Trustees.

During Matthew’s time at ArtsEd, he raised concerns over the management structure and style and, subsequently, working relationships, which he considered were impacting DSSF independence, institutional welfare and quality of provision. The Trustees took these concerns seriously, seeking solutions and subsequently arranging for an external examination of alleged behaviours. Despite these efforts, however, a satisfactory resolution could not be reached, and Matthew departed ArtsEd in August 2023.

Following the publication of allegations in Deadline in November 2023, the Trustees commissioned an external, barrister-led investigation, the findings of which have since been released publicly. The Trustee Board has accepted that there are important lessons to be learned, and we are implementing necessary changes.

During this period, educational provision at ArtsEd has been subject to examination by both Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate. In both instances, the findings have confirmed areas of outstanding excellence with all standards being met, evidencing institutional effectiveness.

ArtsEd and its Trustees acknowledge that Matthew acted in good faith when raising his concerns and was seeking to uphold the values of the institution. The Trustees regret the distress and disruption caused to Matthew and others by his departure. It is our hope that this statement makes clear the contribution Matthew has made to our institution and that it enables him to move on from this challenging period to achieve the leadership successes he deserves.

We are pleased to announce that we have commenced the recruitment process for a new Principal to lead ArtsEd.
To support us in finding the ideal candidate, Odgers, a leading executive search firm, has been appointed. The position is being advertised on prominent platforms such as Diversity Jobsite and The Guardian to attract a broad and diverse pool of applicants.

“As we embark on the search for a new Principal, we are focused on finding a visionary leader who shares our passion for the performing arts and our commitment to educational excellence. This is an exciting time for ArtsEd, and we look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for our students, staff, and the entire community.”  Farida Mannan, Acting Chair of Trustees.

This recruitment marks a significant step in the future of ArtsEd as we continue to uphold our commitment to providing world-class education in the performing arts. We are confident that this process will attract a leader who shares our dedication to excellence and inclusivity. We look forward to the opportunities that this new chapter will bring.

Download the Candidate Pack