Theatre Producer James Williams elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
JW Theatres' Artistic Director and Chief Executive, James Williams, has been honoured by the Royal Society of Arts as a new Fellow
BIRMINGHAM, U.K.: James Williams has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Founded in 1754, the Fellowship is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) judges to have made outstanding achievements to social progress and development. Fellowship is only awarded to those who have demonstrated that they have made significant contributions to social change. Fellows of the RSA are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FRSA.
Previous Fellows have included Marie Curie, Charles Dickens, John Diefenbaker, Alfred Dunhill, Benjamin Franklin, Stephen Hawking, Nelson Mandela, Karl Marx and Adam Smith. Current Fellows include Dame Judi Dench and Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
"Established in an Enlightenment coffeehouse over 260 years ago, the RSA is a global community of proactive problem solvers that unites people and ideas to resolve the challenges of our time. Our Fellowship is an inclusive network of people who can demonstrate, through their professional or personal life, that they support the RSA's mission and values", explains Joseph Menezes from The RSA.
James Williams says "I feel humbled and honoured to join a Fellowship which is so steeped in history. I look forward to working with inspiring colleagues to champion the Arts, which are more vital than ever in achieving social change and making the world a fairer place for all."
The Royal Society of Arts was founded in 1754 by William Shipley as the Society for the Encouragements of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1847, and the right to use the term Royal in its name, by King Edward VII in 1908. The shorter version, The Royal Society of Arts and the related RSA acronym, are used more frequently than the full name. The RSA has been based in RSA House close to the Strand in London since 1774.
James Williams is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of JW Theatres which incorporates a theatre production company, venues and Midlands Academy of Musical Theatre, a full time drama school advancing a new approach to training the very best performers of the future.
