Professor Stuart Bartholomew is a graduate of universities in the UK and Canada. He has held posts at McMaster University, Ontario; the University of Alberta; the University of Derby; the Open University and as Dean of Media at The University of the Arts, London. He joined The Arts University College, Bournemouth as Principal and Chief Executive in 1997.

With expertise in the field of media and broadcasting, Stuart Bartholomew worked extensively with the British Film Institute and has served on national validating and awarding bodies and with the Quality Assurance Agency. He was Vice Chairman of the Council for Higher Education in Art and Design (CHEAD) and has been an adviser to the British Broadcasting Organisation, The Independent Broadcasting Authority, UNESCO and the OECD.

He was instrumental in the development of advanced awards in Photography and has extensive experience in curriculum development in a variety of Lens-based Media. His current institution achieved the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Medal for its work in Film and Animation and is a designated UK Screen and Media Academy. Professor Bartholomew combines an established professional knowledge of contemporary media, art and design with experience of translating vocational objectives into academic programmes of study. He is Chair of UKADIA the national association of specialist arts and design institutions and is widely acknowledged as one of the champions of specialist provision in these subjects as well as a highly experienced manager in the University sector.

He is currently active on the Regional Development Creative Industries Task Force, and advising the Department of Culture Media and Sport on skills and entrepreneurship in the creative industries with membership of the Creative Economy programme. Professor Bartholomew is a member of the Prime Minister’s Initiative Strategy Group and The Higher Levels Skills Implementation Group at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. At the Arts University College he is developing an institutional concept of ‘agency’ where connections between school, higher education and employment are a priority. He is a respected speaker on contemporary issues in the arts both nationally and internationally.

Professor Bartholomew was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1999 and is currently Visiting Professor at The University of the Arts, London.