We're pleased to announce that Maureen Royce and Eddie Berg are the new Co-Chairs of our Board, taking up their appointment on 7 October 2025. They replace Peter Mearns, who has served as Chair of the Bluecoat since 2016.
Eddie Berg is a creative consultant and mentor who is based in Liverpool and works internationally. He is a specialist in film, media arts, and tech-based work, with a successful track record of creating and leading successful cultural venues, projects, and festivals. He was Director of the British Film Institute on London’s South Bank, leading the redevelopment of the iconic venue, and is the Founder and former CEO of the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT). He has a long association with the Bluecoat and has worked closely with artists for 30 years.
Eddie was based in Brooklyn, New York from 2019 to 2025 and has long experience in providing strategic support; generating feasible, longer-term plans, and mentoring for organisations, artists, and other creative practitioners, both in the US and the UK. He’s also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).
Dr. Maureen Royce is an educator with a specialist in professional practice learning and a teaching background in HR, leadership and equality. Until recently, Maureen was at Liverpool John Moores University where she was Associate Dean, Education, and the Director of Accreditation at Liverpool Business School, Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) Co-Chair on Professional Development Framework, and a member of the CIPD Northern Policy Group. Voluntary work has been a consistent part of Maureen's practice, working with organisations to help shape board development for sustainability.
Maureen has been based in Liverpool for many years. Her key areas of knowledge and experience include HR, wellbeing and social justice. Maureen has worked extensively with organisations as diverse as Liverpool Irish Centre, Everton Library Community Trust, DaDaFest, Amnesty International, The Women's Organisation, and The Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development.
Outgoing Chair Peter Mearns steps down after nine years of service at the Bluecoat. His achievements as Chair include the transformative refurbishment of our public welcome and reception area, known as the 'Hub', and the securing of funds for the redevelopment of the upstairs Bistro into a large and exciting new events space. Peter successfully steered the organisation through the Covid-19 closure period and during his time, built a diverse and capable Board of Trustees for the Bluecoat. Hallmarks of his tenure include a stakeholder consultation and a major brand review; refreshing and updating the Bluecoat’s ‘look and feel’.
“I have very much enjoyed leading the Bluecoat's Board during a period of great change and progress for the organisation and working with Mary and her team to help establish Liverpool’s iconic arts centre as one of the most successful in the UK. I’m delighted that Eddie and Maureen will take on the role. Together they bring a wealth of experience and new ideas to take Bluecoat into the next phase of its development.”
"We are delighted that Maureen and Eddie will be our new Chairs to take the organisation forward, at a time when Bluecoat is planning to celebrate in 2027 its centenary of its founding as an arts centre, the oldest in the UK. Maureen and Eddie’s combined expertise will advance Bluecoat's position as a strong influence within the Liverpool region's growing cultural sector. I very much look forward to working with them. We are all immensely grateful to Peter for his dedication and support of Bluecoat through a period of immense change and progress. Myself, and my colleagues, would like to express our gratitude to him for his lasting contribution to the Bluecoat."