Taking up her new post, Reyahn brings more than 20 years experience in museums and galleries in the USA and UK to the table. Based in Birmingham at HLF’s regional office for the West Midlands, she will oversee a team of ten administering heritage grant applications to the Fund from £3,000 to £2million plus.

Formerly Director of Art Galleries at National Museums Liverpool from 2007 to 2012, Reyahn King’s achievements there included programme delivery for European Capital of Culture, the HLF funded capital project at Lady Lever Art Gallery and developing a new permanent gallery of British Art at the Walker Art Gallery. Prior to that, she was based in the West Midlands for ten years working in Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery and Coventry Arts & Heritage.

Reyahn King originally read Modern History at Oxford University and has a Masters in History of Art from Boston University in Massachusetts. Now an Associate of the Museums Association and a previous MLA Fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme in 2010-11, she has also served on the National Trust West Midlands Regional Committee in the past and is delighted to be returning to the region.

Commenting on her new role, she said: “I love the diversity of people and places in the West Midlands and am delighted to return to work for the HLF here. I like making a difference and that is what the HLF does all the time for heritage through strategic support and advocacy.”

Outgoing Head of the West Midlands, Anne Jenkins, who held the post for nearly 10 years, has recently been appointed as Deputy Director of Operations at the Heritage Lottery Fund and is now based in their London offices. She said: “It has been a privilege to have spent 10 years with the Heritage Lottery Fund in the West Midlands. It has been a period of considerable change for the heritage sector but I think that we have helped to support some wonderful projects in that time ranging from the Town Hall in Birmingham through to Hereford Cathedral Close and lots of smaller community based projects which have helped people to explore their own local history and develop a range of skills. I wish Reyahn all the best in her new role and hope that she enjoys it as much as I have.”

Further information

Vicky Wilford, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6046 / 07968 129 241 or vickyw@hlf.org.uk.