‘Pippa Jones MBE' - now that’s got a nice ring to it.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Pippa Jones (or ‘Philippa Claire Jones' as we now know her) has been an awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List, published today, for services to the Arts.

We caught up with a stunned Pippa who told us:

“I am delighted to have been awarded an MBE for services to the Arts - especially as I so nearly missed the acceptance deadline because the letter offering the award got stuck at the Create Glos PO Box!

I share this honour with all the people whose passion, wisdom and generosity have shaped my work in Gloucestershire and the wider South West region. And with dear family and friends who have been there throughout the triumphs and challenges of making arts  everyday for everyone.

The arts are not simply nice to have - they are vital.  Art and creativity enable us to express what matters most  - to reveal our ideas, our cultures, our hopes, fears and dreams - and to connect with others through a myriad of artforms and creative interventions which can truly transform our places and our communities.  

You can't win or lose in the arts. You can’t get them right or wrong.  When competition and division have left too many feeling that their story is not as valued or important, the arts enable us each to listen and to be listened to.  Through the arts we discover our common ground as well as our differences, opening dialogue that can bring us to a new and kinder understanding of each other.

In 2025, alongside the fantastic Create Gloucestershire team, our Board,  members and all our collaborators, I look forward to connecting more people and communities to the amazing artists and cultural organisations we have in Gloucestershire and throughout the United Kingdom.”

Congratulations Pippa - so well deserved!