Jill Low, news of whose sudden, tragic death has been announced, had a profound impact on the artistic landscape of Salisbury and way beyond. She was a highly talented, colourful, larger than life character who brought all of her passion for the arts and for their transformative power to bear on her role as Director of Salisbury Arts Centre from 1994 to 2007.

Following the Save our Arts Centre campaign, launched in the early 90s in the face of threatened closure due to funding cuts, Jill was recruited as Director in 1994 and set about realising an ambitious vision for this much-loved community venue. She focussed on working with Arts Council England to put the Centre onto a secure financial footing so that it became in due course one of ACE’s core-funded organisations. Building on the existing programme, harnessing the local professional artistic community and a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers and Directors, Jill broadened and professionalised the Arts Centre’s offer, opening up opportunities for artists and performers, creating a vibrant programme which included small scale touring dance, theatre, music of all genres, exhibitions, and arts workshops, whilst continuing to play a part as a Salisbury International Arts Festival venue. During Jill’s time the Arts Centre also hosted resident companies and artists, providing a platform for emerging artists and seasoned ones alike. Alongside the professionally-led programme, the Centre provided a venue for a wide range of community performances and hosted a vibrant youth rock programme which reached a vast number of young people.

Jill was motivated by her deep-held belief that people of all ages and backgrounds should get the chance to be creative and experimental together, and this instinct for inclusivity informed her programming policy. On a typical weekend in the late 90s you could come to a pottery or other making workshop, enjoy good food and music at a Live Lunch, attend a family theatre show in the afternoon and be amongst an audience of 400 young people for a local bands gig in the evening. Every aspiring young rock musician wanted to play the Arts Centre.

As the programme grew, so did the staff team. The Centre was the entry point – be it through a permanent job, a work placement or a work experience opportunity - for many young people seeking to go into arts management. Jill was an exceptional leader, mentor and motivator of people, and this is the recurring theme of the words spoken about her in the last few days by individuals who worked with her- the impact that she had on them and their professional (and often personal) development. So once you joined the Arts Centre, you were well and truly hooked. She was an excellent delegator. This is not said cynically: she was a natural enabler, empowering people in her generous and open manner, always accessible, always listening, and always reflective.

Beneath the warm exterior, Jill was a force to be reckoned with. If she believed in something she persevered with it until she got it. It was with this characteristic stubborn determination that she took the Centre through its hugely challenging £4.2M capital project that transformed the building from a cold, leaky, uncomfortable, impractical one into a stunning venue fit for purpose, whilst retaining all the extraordinary beauty and truly unique atmosphere of the place.

Jill had a natural capacity to spread joy and to celebrate. She was fun-loving, with a mischievous streak. She dressed in a riot of colour and loved to have a good time on the dance floor. She communicated that joyful spirit and personality to all those around her and made sure that the working life should have plenty of highs amidst the hard graft.

It would be impossible to quantify the number of people touched by Jill during her time in Salisbury. She did great things before that – at the Gantry in Southampton and at Forest Arts Centre in New Milton, to name but two, and after leaving the Arts Centre she returned to Southampton to be Project Manager for their new Arts Centre project. After retirement she joined the board of Trustees of the Mayflower. But here and now, it is for her immeasurable contribution to the imaginative and creative life of Salisbury and its people that we remember her. And those of us who worked with her will never forget her sparkle, warmth, generosity and inspirational leadership 

She will be – she is already- deeply missed.

Jill is survived by Mick, Katie, Sam, and her small grandson. All our thoughts are with them.

Written by Catherine Sandbrook