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Born in St Anns, Nottingham, Henry Normal is a writer, poet and TV & film producer. He co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family. As co-founder and managing director of Baby Cow Productions, he executive produced Gavin & Stacey, the Oscar nominated film Philomena and the Alan Partridge movie Alpha Papa. In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to Television. He currently has 6 books out including the auto-biographical ‘A Normal Family’, published by Two Roads. Henry has received acclaim for ‘A Normal…’, a recent series of shows on Radio 4, where he uses poetry, storytelling and comedy to explore life’s big questions.
Henry said of the announcement:
“After 40 years nurturing creativity for the whole of the community in Nottingham, City Arts certainly deserve a patron. I’m honoured to be the first. The first of many over the next 40 years I hope.”
Tim Challans, City Arts Chair, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Henry into the City Arts family as our very first patron. Throughout his career he has shown an appreciation for the life changing power of art and a commitment to championing unheard voices. He is a perfect fit.”
City Arts is celebrating the end of its forty year anniversary. Founded as Nottingham Community Arts & Crafts Centre in 1977, it was based in Hyson Green on the site now occupied by New Art Exchange. Over the years it has become one of the UK’s leading community arts organisation. In 2014, City Arts moved in to new premises in Hockley offering a programme of public events and exhibitions created with community groups and vulnerable people.
To mark the organisation’s fortieth year, City Arts have undertaken a number of special activities: working with school children and community groups to create a giant mechanical phoenix for the Nottingham Puppet Festival; programming a series of Folk proms featuring acclaimed local musicians; holding a competition for amateur writers; and working with refugee and asylum seekers to produce a new exhibition for the organisations venue in Hockley.