The Secretary of State for Culture, Jeremy Hunt, announced today that he will not reappoint Dame Liz Forgan as Chair of Arts Council England when her term ends in January 2013. Liz Forgan was appointed Arts Council England's Chair in February 2009, and is the first woman to hold the position. She will be stepping down from the post when her term ends in January 2013, at the age of 68.

She was also appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to broadcasting and heritage in 2006. Forgan joined the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund as Chair in April 2001 and stood down at the end of her term in October 2008. Following an early career in newspaper journalism, she moved to television with the start of Channel 4 where she became Director of Programmes. She joined the BBC as Managing Director of BBC Radio from 1993 to 1996

Responding to this news, Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: “Liz has been an outstanding Chair and will be much missed. I have valued her passion, insight and strong leadership as we worked together through challenging times to deliver a sustainable future for the arts in England and to maintain their world standing.

“When Liz departs at the end of her four year term in January, she will leave behind a transformed Arts Council – one whose greater transparency and efficiency has been recognised in its being entrusted with a wider remit that includes museums, libraries and cultural education alongside the arts. And that is due, in no small part, to her stewardship.

“I am pleased that Liz will remain with us through this important Olympic year, when many of the investments she and her Council endorsed will come to fruition in the Cultural Olympiad – a once in a lifetime nationwide showcase of English artistic talent. It seems fitting to end her tenure on such a celebration of the artistic excellence Liz has been instrumental in safeguarding and developing.”