Van McLeod
Van McLeod is the Commissioner for the State of New Hampshire's Department of Cultural Resources. As Commissioner, he oversees the Divisions of the Arts, Historical Resources, the State Library and the Film & Television Office. McLeod has 40 years of experience producing and directing theatre and film as well as producing numerous other events and programs within the arts and entertainment industry. Prior to his job as Commissioner, he served as Artistic Producing Director for the Papermill Theatre (North Country Center for the Arts) in Lincoln, NH and was Founder and Producer of First Night New Hampshire in Concord. McLeod was honored by the New Hampshire Film Festival in 2008 and had an annual award named after him for achievement and support of the film industry in NH. In 2007, he won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the NH Theatre Awards. McLeod has also won the Granite State Award for outstanding public service, was recognized by Business NH Magazine, “NH Leaders for the 21st Century” in 2000, and has been listed in Who's Who in Entertainment. He was one of four American Fellows at the Salzburg Seminars, “The Power of Theater: Artistry, Entertainment, and Social Commentary.” He has served on several boards and as a judge at numerous theatre and film festivals in New England. He won the Gold Aurora Award for his work as Director/Producer of the documentary film “Murals; Romanticizing the Violence,” which was shot in Northern Ireland. He attended the Orson Welles Film School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. McLeod lives in Concord, New Hampshire with his wife Joan and daughter Chelsea.