Jane Attenborough
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (June 2022) |
Jane Attenborough | |
---|---|
Born | Jane Mary Attenborough 30 September 1955 London, England |
Died | 26 December 2004 Khao Lak Beach, Thailand | (aged 49)
Education | Lady Eleanor Holles School |
Alma mater | University of Sussex |
Occupation | Arts administrator • arts manager |
Years active | 1977–2004 |
Spouse |
Michael Holland (m. 1982) |
Children | 3 |
Parent(s) | Richard Attenborough Sheila Sim |
Family |
|
Jane Mary Attenborough (30 September 1955 – 26 December 2004) was an English arts administrator and arts manager. The eldest daughter of the actor and filmmaker Richard Attenborough and the actress Sheila Sim, she was first employed as overseas membership secretary at the Royal Academy of Dance. Attenborough later joined the Arts Council of Great Britain to its national touring programme in 1979 before moving to the Rambert Dance Company as dance liaison officer, expanding its education programme from schools activities to local community events.
She died together with her daughter Lucy and mother-in-law in the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami while holidaying in Thailand on 26 December 2004.
Early life and education
Jane Mary Attenborough was born on 30 September 1955 in London.[1] She was the eldest daughter of the actor and filmmaker Richard Attenborough and the actress Sheila Sim. Attenborough had two siblings: Michael and Charlotte.[2] From her childhood, Attenborough was raised amongst people from the artistic world and she was focused on addressing a concern that many individuals lacked an opportunity to participate in the arts.[3] Attenborough was educated at the Lady Eleanor Holles School in Hampton, before going on to enroll on a sociology course at the University of Sussex from 1973 to 1976.[1]
Career
Attenborough's first role of employment was as overseas membership secretary at the
She later became Dance UK's executive director, using managerial experience and fundraising events to contribute to the promotion of the dance world and improve the conditions in which dancers had. An initiative in which Attenborough was instrumental in the development of was the Healthier Dancer Programme to help dancers maintain their fitness and reduce the risk of injury.[3] She also helped to establish the Digital Dance Awards in 1987, which allowed companies and choreographers to produce works that they could not have created beyond their normal financial means.[3][4] In early 2000, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation had a vacancy for a job as arts manager and Attenborough was its successful applicant.[1] There she was involved in multiple projects that introduced "at risk" individuals to the arts and had an increasing involvement in the Paul Hamlyn Foundation's support for employment in prisons.[3]
In 1985, Attenborough became administrator for the National Organisation for Dance and Mime (later
Furthermore, Attenborough was involved in the promotion of music education in schools in
After Attenborough's death, Dance UK established the Jane Attenborough One Dance UK Industry Award in her name and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation awarded the Jane Attenborough Dance in Education Fellowship to assist a retiring dancer transition to community and education work from 2005 to 2009. A drama and music facility at Waterford Kamhlaba in Eswatini and a small studio at the University of Sussex were named after her.
Personal life
Attenbrough's brother Michael described her as "intense"; Moser called her an individual who had a "generous spirit, integrity, wisdom and involvement"';[1] and Myers noted her "infectious sense of humour" and "great charm".[3] She was able to get individuals from many backgrounds to relax, and combined "great enthusiasm and passion with impressive administrative skills and acute sensitivity to the needs of artists and audiences."[3]
Death
On 26 December 2004, Attenborough died in a tsunami in Thailand, at age 49. Her daughter, Lucy, and her mother-in-law, also died.[6] Her husband, son, and another daughter survived.[1]
Legacy
The Musical Features project of which she was manager expanded operations outside of the United Kingdom and one million young people took up the initiative.[5] Dance UK established the Jane Attenborough One Dance UK Industry Award in recognition of "an individual working in dance who has made an outstanding contribution to the art form."[7] From 2005 to 2009, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation honoured Attenborough with the two-year £50,000 Jane Attenborough Dance in Education Fellowship, which aimed "to enable a dance company to provide practical assistance, mentoring and training to help a dancer coming to the end of his or her career to make a successful transition to education and community work."[8]
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation also funded the construction of a drama and music facility, the Jane Holland Creative Centre for Learning at Waterford Kamhlaba in Eswatini, which was opened by Lord & Lady Attenborough in November 2006 in honour of their eldest daughter.[9] Her alma mater, the University of Sussex, named a small studio in the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts after her in 2015.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Moser, Claus (7 April 2005). "Jane Attenborough; Energetic administrator who championed the arts". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c Born, Matt (29 December 2004). "Triple tragedy hits Attenborough family". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Myers, Jodi (6 April 2005). "Jane Attenborough; Dynamic arts administrator". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Jane Attenborough; Lives in brief". The Times. 25 March 2005. p. 69. Retrieved 15 August 2019 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
- ^ a b "Ten Years On : Remembering Jane Attenborough". Engaged Learning. 26 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Bird, Steve (8 December 2005). "Three generations of Attenborough family swept away". The Times. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Honouring individuals working in dance: Jane Attenborough Award". One Dance UK. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "JADE Fellowships: About the initiative". Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Latest Stories – Michael & Karen Attenborough Conduct Actor's Workshop". Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ "ACCA at University of Sussex". Space With Us. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.