Roth becomes head of culture for the canton of Basel-Landschaft
Cultural manager Esther Roth is the new head of the cultural.bl department of the canton of Basel-Landschaft. She succeeds Niggi Ullrich, who stepped down from the position on December 31, 2014.
Born in 1980, Esther Roth is currently a freelance cultural manager. According to the canton's press release, she completed her education at the University of Basel with a Master of Advanced Studies in Arts Management. Since 2012, she has held the presidency of the Association of Artists and Theatre Organizers Switzerland and is President of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Performers Foundation SIS.
She is currently responsible for national and political projects at "Helvetiarockt" and is a board member of RFV Basel - the Basel region's pop promotion and music network. In the past, she has worked in various cultural institutions in Switzerland and Germany in the production of theater and music (jazz, rock and pop).
Roth prevailed against 86 applicants from all over Switzerland. The selection committee, which included the head of the BKSD, Cantonal Councillor Monica Gschwind, and a representative of the Cultural Council, voted unanimously in her favor.
Esther Roth will take over as head of the cultural.bl department on February 1, 2016. The main focus will be on familiarizing herself with the ongoing business of the main department and making contact with cultural professionals in the region. However, the focus will also be on negotiations with the Canton of Basel-Stadt regarding contractual cooperation in the cultural sector and preparations for a new cultural mission statement.
This ends a one-year vacancy in the management of kulturelles.bl, although according to local press reports it initially remained unclear whether the post would be filled at all. Roth's predecessor Niggi Ullrich has been president of the professional association of independent theater professionals Act since July 1 of this year.
