2013 - 2016 Arts Fundraising Fellows
Michelle Wright Programme Director Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy
We are delighted to be celebrating the third year of the Arts Fundraising Fellowships programme. Thanks to additional funding from Arts Council England we are pleased to provide a further 25 Fellowships this year, giving a total of 55 professionals the extraordinary opportunity of joining the country's top arts organisations on year-long fundraising traineeships. Arts and cultural organisations today face greater competition and have a stronger need for strategic input and the ability to turn the smallest of opportunities into sustainable income. This year’s intake of Fellows is larger than ever before as publicly funded arts organisations recognise the increasing importance of an entrepreneurial approach and in-house fundraising expertise to achieve financial sustainability. We knew when we set out to deliver the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy programme that to achieve a step change in fundraising across the arts it was essential to bring through new, entrepreneurially minded and diverse graduate talent that could take on these challenges. Three years on the Fellows are proving themselves to be a dynamic force, bringing new energy, thinking and income into the arts and cultural sector. We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England for their visionary investment in this important programme.
The Fellowship Programme The Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Programme is the first of its kind in the UK, offering a range of professional development opportunities for emerging and established arts fundraising professionals, including Arts Fundraising Fellowships. In Year 1 (2013-14) and Year 2 (2014-15), a total of 30 Fellows undertook year-long traineeships at a diverse range of arts organisations across England. They helped to raise over £1.6 million in funding as well as undertaking significant infrastructural work to strengthen their hosts’ fundraising capacity. Year 3 of the Fellowship (2015-16) sees a further 25 trainees joining the teams of arts and cultural organisations across England. The Fellows will learn on the job from experts in the field, supporting the fundraising efforts of their organisations, and will work towards receiving a Postgraduate Certificate in Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy, accredited by the University of Leeds. We are proud to showcase the work and achievements of our Year 1 and Year 2 Fellows, and look forward to seeing the Year 3 cohort build on those successes during 2015-16 and in the years to come.
Year 1 Fellows In 2013, 15 of the country’s leading organisations hosted a Fellow for 12 months. There were 7 in London, 4 in the North and 4 in the South West. In total, they raised at least £760,000 for their host organisations and established new fundraising channels and infrastructures, such as by introducing CRM systems or setting up living legacies. Year 1 Fellows have all gone on to remain in the arts and fundraising, becoming Heads of Development departments, directors of arts organisations or fundraising managers and officers.
South West Matthew Ashdown Hall for Cornwall Matt has set up various successful audience development projects in the South East, through arts organisation Moogie Wonderland and several concert promotion companies. He also co-founded a ‘for profit’ digital marketing company, which used income to help fund music events in strange locations such as on a ship or in a warehouse. Matt supported Hall for Cornwall's longer-term capacity planning with research, data management, ideas-generation and cultivation. He also undertook trust bids, donor prospect research and relationship management, cultivation events and corporate sponsorship.
Miriam Battye Circomedia Miriam generated a culture of fundraising within Circomedia and learnt a great deal about the challenges and opportunities presented by such a unique sector. Alongside Circomedia she spent time at two very different Bristol arts organisations, Theatre Bristol and Colston Hall, where she supported diverse approaches to income generation for organisations with very different needs. Miriam is currently recipient of the JMK Assistant Director Bursary, working on a production at Bristol Old Vic, is under commission to write a play for the National Youth Theatre and continues to make work with her company Tap Tap Theatre.
Georgina Brown Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Georgina created BSO's case for support and financial strategy for a new artistic project and undertook research for a number of new trusts. She was also responsible for funding their Artist in Residency, worked on corporate events and major donors and led a market-scoping exercise, supporting the development of a legacy marketing programme. “The training offered by the Fellowship inspires and confirms the work that I commit the rest of my time to with the Orchestra. It's a fast track to gaining a wealth of experience in the arts fundraising world. In any other position I would never have as much practical opportunity in as short a space of time.”
Robin Peters Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival Robin has worked with organisations across the UK and overseas, producing, directing and administrating theatre events. During his Fellowship he cultivated new sponsorship deals and undertook extensive prospect research and database management on individual donors, helping to grow the festival’s regular givers. He is now the Director of Shooting Roots, offering young people creative and participatory folk workshops at festivals. “Through my Fellowship, I was able to see fantastic art and say ‘I made this possible’ that's a great motivator. I’m eager to support even more art and culture in the future.”
North Bex Shindler Tate Liverpool Bex developed Tate Liverpool’s individual giving strategy, including coordinating their first legacy event, undertaking prospect research and securing a number of grants in support of DaDaFest’s 2014 contemporary art exhibition. Bex is now Development Executive at The Lowry in Salford, managing and developing their individual giving programmes. “The Fellowships programme has provided a platform for me to be an ‘enabler’ of artistic excellence and inspiring educational projects, an extremely rewarding experience.”
Adam Cooper Sage Gateshead Adam led three fundraising campaigns linked to The Sage’s 10th Birthday Appeal, including its seat-naming campaign which secured over 50 new donors, secured trust funding and organised the first sponsored event for North Music Trust. Adam also developed nine new corporate donors for the Sage before being appointed as Head of Development at Sound and Music, the national agency for new music. “The Fellowship is a unique and careerdefining experience. I have had the chance to meet and learn from some of the most inspiring leaders in the UK arts sector, to manage high-profile projects and programmes, and benefit from targeted and intensive training and mentoring”
Sarah Johnston Opera North Sarah is proud to have made a positive impact on Opera North’s fundraising targets, particularly working in a small team to help secure significant funding from the Hull business community for the company’s 3 year residency plan and securing trust funding for Opera North’s education work including Verve, a project working with young people with learning disabilities. Sarah is now Development Officer at The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, working primarily to develop income from trusts and individuals. “Attending patron’s evenings for opening nights was a useful chance to see the development team cultivate high level donors. It was fascinating to see how thoroughly they had planned to meet them on the night.”
Tom Bevan Royal Northern College of Music Tom planned and lead the annual RNCM Gala Dinner, raised funds from Trusts and Foundations, and launched RNCM’s seat naming campaign as part of their Concert Hall refurbishment campaign, increasing the number of named seats by over 400%. Tom is now Development Executive at The Lowry, managing their corporate giving schemes. “The Fellowship has been an excellent opportunity to experience all aspects of fundraising and make a real contribution to the host organisation. The professional development and networks that we built through this programme are unrivalled and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity.”
London Dana Segal The Roundhouse Dana developed the communications for the organisations’ charitable objectives, growing its donor income stream. After the Fellowship she was their Individual Research and Community Co-ordinator, growing income from local donors. Dana is now Development and Events manager at Cockpit Arts, responsible for a wide range of fundraising including the Supporters scheme, venue hire and private tours. She is also a Development Board member for Forest Fringe. “The Fellowship experience is so much more than ‘just fundraising’. I’ve developed communication and research skills and my understanding of organisational strategy.”
Naomi Allen Free Word Naomi managed the implementation of a new fundraising database, wrote a number of successful grant applications and worked closely with the director on artistic programming. She supported trustees in cultivating donors and organising a fundraising dinner, managed Free Word's £5 text based donations for their five year appeal and installed a new CRM system and database which had a transformative impact on Free Word's long term resilience and capacity building. “Raising money brings with it a sense of achievement – you are producing the means so that an organisation can thrive.”
Stephanie Graham Barbican Stephanie worked on the Barbican’s “Gift with ticket” scheme and wrote and contributed to Trusts and Foundation applications, particularly in support of a major classical music residency at the Barbican in 2015. She is now Director of Adapt for Arts, a Community Interest Company that offers technology, marketing, design and fundraising services to artists and arts organisations. “I was delighted to work within the social and historical context of the Barbican using the diverse business and resident community as a great inspiration.”
Sandie Mattioli Whitechapel Gallery Sandie achieved some fantastic fundraising success with Trusts and Foundations, contributed to an exciting new corporate scheme and co-organised an auction of work by emerging artists. Sandie now works at Camden Arts Centre securing the future of the Centre in their 50th anniversary year. “The variety and breadth of fundraising activity I undertook was utterly fantastic. One day I might be approaching trusts for support, another working on details of a patrons trip or preparing materials for corporate partners."
Emma Pickering Sadler's Wells Emma undertook corporate and capital fundraising, developing and managing a brand new corporate membership scheme, raising significant funds through embassy funding and co-organising a number of large scale events. Emma also worked on the Breakin Convention project researching income streams and supporting a fundraising strategy. Emma now works at Creative Skillset as a Fund Coordinator. “Being a Fellow was an intense but stimulating learning journey, a perfect opportunity to put theory into practice, ask questions and develop my progression and ideas.”
Jill Richens A New Direction Jill is now Development Officer at AND, leading all fundraising activity and brokering cultural sector and local authority partnerships. She provides voluntary fundraising support to arts, cultural and youth organisations across London and is a Clore Emerging Leader (2015). “I particularly enjoyed working on A New Direction’s fundraising strategy, taking a broad perspective about who we are and what we do. It’s testament to the team that they have created a space where I can contribute to the organisation’s future.”
Sarah Ruff Dance UK Sarah secured new sponsorship from corporate organisations, raised significant investment from Dance UK’s first ever fundraising event and wrote successful applications to trusts. She maintained a number of freelance projects in addition to her work, recently securing a grant from the Artists International Development Fund for disabled artist Martin O Brien. Sarah now works as Events Manager at RADA whilst fundraising for political artists. “The Fellowship gave me the expertise to approach a much wider spectrum of arts funders, and increase capacity for the creation of artistic works. I am very excited about what the future holds and I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to widen my horizons.”
Year 2 Fellows In the Fellowship programme's second year there were 5 Host Organisations in London, 5 in the North of England and 5 in the South West. In total, the Fellows raised at least ÂŁ860,000 for their Host Organisations. Their work included writing bids to trusts and foundations, setting up individual giving programmes, managing cultivations events and planning capital campaigns. Some Fellows will remain at their Host Organisation to continue the fundraising work they have been doing over the past year. Others will be moving into fundraising jobs in other organisations, such as The Poetry Society and Northern Ballet.
North Beth Harvey Liverpool Philharmonic Beth has worked for the Barbican Art Gallery, Tate Liverpool, and Victoria Gallery and Museum, before working as a fundraising and outreach officer at Bluecoat Display Centre. Her Fellowship provided her with a thorough understanding of a major capital campaign, education appeals, and membership schemes. She developed relationships with corporate sponsors, organised hospitality events and secured funding from trust and individual donors. She is now Development Manager for individual giving at Scottish Ballet in Glasgow.
Rachael White Liverpool Biennial Partway through her Fellowship Rachael was appointed Development Officer for Liverpool Biennial and continued her Fellowship in this role. During her time there she has raised significant investments for the festival, predominantly from trusts and foundations. She has also led on a Creative Europe bid, wrote three award submissions (one of which won Marketing Campaign of the year at the Liverpool Tourism Awards) and launched the Biennial's 'Limited Edition Print' initiative at three art fairs. Rachael will continue working at Liverpool Biennial beyond her Fellowship as Development Officer.
Jessica Hilton Hull Truck Theatre Alongside her BA English Literature & Theatre Studies, Jessica worked in Opera North’s Howard Assembly Room, and assisted in creating the Stage@Leeds Company at the University. Jessica was also fortunate enough to undertake two projects in China; a touring theatre production based on the works of Cao Yu, and a Chinese opera summer school. In her Fellowship Jessica is most proud of her advocacy for fundraising within the organisation, securing a grant from BBC Children in Need and funding from a lapsed corporate sponsor. Jessica now works at Northern Ballet in Leeds as the Research & Data Officer in their fundraising team, specialising in prospect research.
Clemency Horsell York Theatre Royal Clemency’s Fellowship focused on a £4.1 million redevelopment project, particularly creating and implementing a community fundraising strategy. Other activities include managing a seat naming campaign, organising community fundraising events and facilitating a series of cultivation events for individuals, major donors and corporates including open days, press nights, royal visits and public appeals. “Through the Fellowship I have met some of the sector’s most inspiring leaders and been mentored by seasoned arts professionals. The networks that I've built are invaluable and will benefit me for the rest of my career."
Annelise Andersen Opera North Annelise is currently a Graduate Engagement and Communications Trainee at the Wellcome Trust. Most of her experience has been in the arts sector, including Verbier Festival, Dartington International Festival of Music, Tyneside Cinema. Annelise is particularly interested in developing public engagement with academia and the arts. In her current role, she hopes to explore different methods of engagement, particularly through broadcasting and exhibitions. "I'm proud to have helped deliver the Launch Event for the Opera North and University of Hull Partnership and secured funding from new trusts and foundations for the company."
London Chloe Booth Artsadmin Chloe secured funding from foundations, half of which were new to the organisation; coordinated fundraising and cultivation events; developed Artsadmin’s case for support and fundraising strategy, and implemented new donor stewardship procedures. Chloe now works as Artsadmin's Development Officer, expanding the organisation’s fundraising and supporting the development of a new capital project. “The training we received gave me a solid understanding of fundraising and I was able to apply my new knowledge in a practical way that gave the learning real tangible value."
Felicity Green Drake Music Felicity’s proudest achievement has been implementing a systematic approach to fundraising in a highly complex organisation to make activity more efficient, and raising significant funds from trusts and foundations. Felicity was PR and Marketing Manager for music group Armonico Consort which saw her deliver campaigns for venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Felicity will remain at Drake Music as Fundraising Coordinator and will be working with Jazz UK as a freelance marketer. She is co-founder and artistic director of HighTime, an opera company which brings the artform to new people and places.
Rachel Hinds Hofesh Shechter Company After graduating, Rachel forged a successful management career within Marks & Spencer and continued her passion for the theatre, performing in productions such as The Railway Children at the Maddermarket Theatre. During her Fellowship Rachel organised a number of high net worth donor cultivation events at venues including the Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells, O2 Academy Brixton and Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, and assisted in securing funding from trusts and foundations. “The Fellowship year has been life changing – the opportunities to experience the Company in all its glory, and meet and learn from industry professionals has been second to none.”
Ariana Musiol South London Gallery Ariana organised cultivation and fundraising events, including an auction, the launch of a new donor scheme, private views, dinners and tours. She developed bespoke members' benefits and strengthened fundraising communications within the gallery and shop. Ariana will remain at SLG until the end of the year as Development Coordinator, working on several projects including the newly announced gift of the Former Peckham Road Fire Station, which will be transformed into a new cultural centre for south London. "The professional development opportunities we’ve had as Fellows have prepared us with the practical and theoretical grounding to progress further into arts leadership roles."
Phoebe Walker Bush Theatre Phoebe helped manage the theatre’s broad roster of supporters, secured grants for artistic and outreach work, helped rewrite the Bush’s corporate fundraising strand and supported a capital redevelopment project by trust fundraising and brokering relationships with the local authority. Phoebe is now Education Coordinator at the Poetry Society, fundraising for its education programme, developing and implementing workshops in schools across the country, and managing the Young Poets Network. “The friendships I’ve made with the other Fellows are invaluable. What a fantastic network of talented and enthusiastic colleagues to take with me throughout my career.”
South West Michael Taylor Spike Island Michael has worked in the UK and abroad in cultural organisations, including a theatre company, music education hub and gallery for contemporary digital arts. During his Fellowship he raised funds for Spike Island through individual donors, patrons, trusts and foundations. As well as creating essential trust databases, he also advocated for fundraising internally, introducing donation boxes and supporting associate artists with trust fundraising and crowdfunding. Michael will continue to work for Spike Island in 2015, before relocating to London to continue his career as an arts fundraiser.
Lindsay Harrod Dorset Arts Trust Lindsay worked with 6 arts organisations in the county with very different strategies, establi-shing a network for professionals to share knowledge and collaboratively increase capacity in the county. Lindsay undertook direct fundraising and developed a range of other projects, from visiting Lincoln to learn about their young producers project, to site visits for public artworks in the beautiful Dorset landscape. This Autumn, Lindsay is spending three months travelling around South America. Afterwards, she will work for the Arts Development Company and the Dorset Arts network again, and is excited to see through the great things she’s helped initiate.
Hannah Keville Create Gloucestershire Hannah recently completed her BA in Fine Art at Newcastle University. She has worked as a Youth Ambassador for the Laing Art Gallery, coordinating their young people’s group ‘L-ink’ and organising projects aimed at strengthening relations between local young people and museums and galleries. During her Fellowship Hannah helped Create Gloucestershire to develop its income generating strategy, secured funding from trusts, undertook prospect research for corporate sponsors and supported partner organisations to grow their individual giving and equip their volunteers and trustees.
Hannah Litherland Lighthouse Poole Hannah undertook rigorous capacity-building work for the Lighthouse, developing its databases, doing prospect research, brand development and assisting with the educational programming. She also directly raised funds for the organisation through trusts, supported the organisation's capital campaign with cultivation events and marketing and revised the Lighthouse’s corporate packages. She has also worked as a freelance producer and curator with organisations such as Decoda and across the country on independent arts projects and enjoys developing and supporting emerging artists and new work.
Lizi Morse Newlyn Gallery, The Exchange and Miracle Theatre Lizi worked for two host organisations, the Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, and Miracle Theatre, supporting cultivation events and raising money for both organisations from trusts, corporate sponsorship and individual giving. Much of her work built both organisations’ capacity to fundraise more effectively in the future, developing relationships with new trusts, creating effective databases and undertaking prospect research. Lizi will continue fundraising in Cornwall at Newlyn Art Gallery.
Year 3 Fellows Thanks to extended funding from Arts Council England, this year’s intake of Fellows is larger than ever before. The Fellowship is being run across the country with 5 Fellows in each of the 5 Areas - London, the Midlands, the North, the South East and the South West. Fellows have been placed in a variety of host organisations of different scales and art forms, ranging from non-building based organisations such as People United and Balbir Singh Dance Company, to large venues such as the Royal Exchange Manchester, Colston Hall Bristol and the London Transport Museum.
Midlands Rosy Ross Midlands Arts Centre Rosy holds a BA in French and English (University of Nottingham) and has lived in France twice as a language teacher. Rosy has recently returned from several months’ traveling in Scandinavia, South and Southeast Asia and South America, culminating in a three month internship in the USA fundraising for a theatre company. Whilst based in Brooklyn, New York, she also contributed to two NYC blogs on electronic music and sustainable living (her other passions).
Katy Price Black Country Living Museum Katy graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Animation from Coventry University in 2012. Katy has since worked with Birmingham based animation company, Yamination Studios as Production Assistant, where she ran a highly successful crowd funding campaign for the short film ‘Atissue’. Katy has also acted as a mentor and Production Coordinator for Birmingham’s first BFI Film Academy, whilst developing a career at Cath Kidston Ltd. and pursuing her passion for the arts.
Bhavisha Kukadia New Art Exchange Bhavisha graduated from the School of Fine Art, History of Arts and Cultural Studies at Leeds University with a BA Hons Cultural Studies in 2013. As an Undergraduate Research and Leadership Scholar she worked on a project focused on Augmented Reality Interface Design for Museums and Galleries. Since then she has been gaining experience at various places including an exhibition and visitor centre for design and production. In her role at New Arts Exchange she hopes to build on her interest and knowledge of diverse and postcolonial cultural production and work to enhance the organisation’s development activities.
Sanpreet Janjua Nottingham Playhouse After graduating Sanpreet has volunteered at many arts based charities and festivals such as The Spark Arts for Children, BE Festival, and The Hay Festival, which peaked her desire to make the arts as accessible as possible. She also gained an interest in fundraising when she was selected to take part in the ICS programme in Ghana in 2015. Sanpreet contributes to the Nottingham Alternative Film Network as its producer which aims to screen films that are often overlooked by mainstream distributors in Nottingham, as well as training young people to write critically about art forms and providing a platform for their work to be published online.
Jonathan Mace Royal Shakespeare Company Jonathan Mace recently graduated with a BSc in Business Management from the University of Birmingham. Alongside his degree he has worked part time as a Front of House and Box Office Assistant at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre. In 2012 Jonathan produced his first small scale musical ‘Edges’ and combined a passion for the Arts with business skills to fund, market, design and direct the production, achieving critical and financial success. Jonathan has also completed internships with Arden Entertainment, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Jamie Wilson Productions in marketing, general management and production roles.
North Christina McNeill Hallé Christina graduated in 2014 from the University of Manchester with a MusB(Hons) in Music. During a summer position with the Edinburgh International Festival in the Sponsorship and Development Department Christina discovered her interest in the Fundraising aspect of arts management. She is thrilled to have the opportunity of working with the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy programme and the Hallé to further her abilities.
Dafydd Williams Balbir Singh Dance Company Dafydd graduated from Newcastle University in 2013 with a BMus degree in Music. Whilst there he was fortunate enough to spend an Erasmus year abroad at the Conservatorio di Arrigo Boito di Parma in Northern Italy. Since graduating Dafydd spent a year gaining business management experience before being accepted onto the MA programme in Music and Management at the University of Leeds in September 2014, for which he was awarded a Fee Scholarship. Alongside his postgraduate studies, Dafydd has undertaken positions at Leeds College of Music and ArtForms – the Leeds City Council music education hub. He has a particular interest in strategy within the arts.
Jess Boyes Mind the Gap In 2013 Jess Boyes graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BA(hons) in English Literature and Drama. After spending 18 months in the commercial department of a large retail business and engaging with small, local charities and festivals, she relocated to Glasgow to pursue a career in the arts. Most recently, Jess completed a graduate placement with Impact Arts, a community arts charity based in Glasgow’s East End, where she focused on an employability programme for young people. She is particularly interested in participatory arts and creative expression as a tool for personal and social development.
Sarah Bird New Writing North Sarah has been living in Newcastle since January 2013, working on various projects including an international arts festival, film production and, most recently, fundraising for Northern Stage. Growing up in South Hampshire, she started accruing work in the arts by assisting in craft studios, cultural Olympiad arts workshops, music festivals and helped on a redevelopment in marketing strategy for Not on the High Street alongside organising fine art exhibitions with fellow artists and designers. She is looking forward to extending this experience with New Writing North and being a part of the Fundraising Fellowship scheme.
Patrick Reynolds Royal Exchange Theatre Patrick completed a BA in English Literature and Language at the University of Leeds after studying English and Creative Writing at the University of California. He is an aspiring writer and has been published by TIME, the Washington Post, and Zocalo Public Square. In 2013 he joined Improv Revolution, a comedy troupe with whom he performed and did outreach work across Southern California. During this time he gained experience in Arts fundraising as CoProducer of Improv Revolution’s Coup de Comedy Festival. Patrick has also volunteered and fundraised for numerous charities, including Moving Mountains Trust and the Terrence Higgins Trust.
South East Clare McCullagh Canterbury Festival Clare graduated from the University of Kent at Canterbury with a BA (Hons) in Drama and Creative Producing in 2014. With a background predominantly in theatre, Clare has been involved with Headlong Theatre, Stage One and LIFT, curating a performance for their After A War weekend at Battersea Arts Centre in 2014. Since arriving from her native Northern Ireland Clare has worked at Canterbury Cathedral, secured a scholarship from Canterbury Arts Council and delved into the vibrant arts and cultural scene in the South-East.
Michaela Clayton People United Michaela graduated from Brunel University in Drama, Film and Television Studies and then took some time out to travel the world and learn about art and culture away from England. She then worked with small charities that support volunteering abroad, arts organisations that create life and culture and larger charity organisations that work with large corporate organisations. From this experience she has realised what she wants to do, fundraise for the arts. Michaela wants to make the arts sustainable for the future, as well as making it accessible for everyone.
Jodie Marsden Artswork Jodie recently graduated with a BA (Hons) in English and Theatre Studies from the University of Warwick where she was involved with the Warwick Raising and Giving society at University, undertaking personal fundraising targets and organised the society's main fundraising events. Her interest in the arts grew when, as Productions Manager for Warwick Shakespeare Society and Freshblood Festival Co-Ordinator, she assisted with small-scale student productions and managed a successful student writing festival. Jodie has also produced and assisted with a large-scale student musical and a studio theatre production in the Warwick Arts Centre.
Kathryn Worthington Ashmolean Kathryn graduated from Loughborough University with a BA (hons) in Multi-Media Textiles in 2012. Since graduating, Kathryn has been volunteering and working in museums and arts institutions in the midlands. Most recently she has worked as a Marketing Coordinator at The National Brewery Centre and an Assistant Manager at Erasmus Darwin House, both in Staffordshire. Kathryn is looking forward to working with the University of Oxford's fundraising department to help protect the Ashmolean's world-class collection for future generations.
Christie Johnson Writers' Centre Norwich Christie graduated with a B.A. (Hons) English and American Literature from University of Kent in 2014. A keen writer, she has developed her skills as an undergraduate and continues to do so as a literary blogger. Christie played a key part in fundraising and marketing strategies for a number of charity events including Cancer Research UK and was the head of social media advertising. Since graduating, she has volunteered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse giving her a strong insight into new developments and sector trends within the arts, and at a primary school coordinating children's workshops to support their creative writing and literary development.
South West Lucy Newton Bristol Music Trust Lucy recently graduated from Durham University with a BA Hons in Music. During her time there, she was involved in various musical ensembles, including a year as President of Durham University Orchestral Society during their 50th anniversary year. Previously based in London, Lucy also spent 3 months on a placement working as Product Assistant and Customer Services Manager for Festicket, an innovative website used to book music festival packages.
Cat Palmer Whiltshire Music Centre Cat graduated from the University of Exeter in 2015 with BSc Hons in Physical Geography. A keen musician, Cat spent much of her time prior to University participating in school, college and Hampshire County Music Service ensembles. Throughout University, she continued her musicianship by participating in several music societies and being elected to several committee positions, ranging from Orchestral Manager of the Gilbert and Sullivan society in 2014 to President of Concert Band (2014-15) and Fundraising and Events Manager for Footlights, a musical theatre society (2014-15).
Heather Holcroft-Pinn Tobacco Factory Theatre Heather moved back to the South West where she grew up after graduating with an MA in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Sussex. Heather has worked for Bath Festivals and Colston Hall since moving to the Bristol area. She is passionate about new writing and innovative forms of performance especially puppetry. Heather is a core member of Dark Squid, inc., a children’s puppet theatre company. In 2013 they performed a sold out run of shows at Brighton Fringe Festival after winning a grant from IdeasTap.
Phoebe Wild Nuffield Theatre Phoebe played a key role in Penwith Gallery’s organisational transformation, gaining a wealth of experience in only 20 months. This involved the design and delivery of its marketing and communications and managing the gallery renovation ready for its relaunch. She graduated in 2011 from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Fine Art having also spent time at TAMK University in Finland. She went on to live in Finland for two years to work with young people in a progressive school. Her journeys and work bring together her main passions in life – people, communities and creativity.
Claire Stone The Point, Eastleigh Claire is a theatre-maker from South East London. After graduating from Warwick University with a BA Hons in Philosophy & Literature, she secured an AHRC grant to study MA Advanced Theatre Practice at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She has successfully led a variety of writing and community arts projects across London, including a pilot workshop, bringing exoffender arts charities Only Connect and Clean Break together, and facilitating workshops for children and adults with mental health issues and disabilities as an Artistic Associate for Green Shoes Arts. She has also produced her own work for Camden People’s Theatre (Calm Down, Dear Festival), Edinburgh Fringe Festival and ZOO Venues.
London Sophie MakSchram Punchdrunk Sophie graduated with a BA (Hons) in English and History of Art from the University of York in 2014. Since then, she has worked on a research project on Indian literature, an independent film in a German circus tent and a community art/activism project with Counterpoints Arts in London. Before her Fellowship Sophie worked at the Abacus, a grassroots creative space in Cardiff. Sophie is interested in making art more accessible for both practitioners and audiences.
Nicola Bullen Soho Theatre Nicola graduated with a BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre Arts from Goldsmiths College, University of London in 2013. Whilst at university Nicola embarked upon a number of voluntary roles, including Clean Break Theatre Company, where she was a classroom assistant. After university she went on to be a Fundraising and Development intern. She also worked with Heart n Soul, an arts organisation based in Deptford who work with adults and young people with learning difficulties.
Nadja Degen Apples and Snakes Nadja previously worked in conference management and academic research at the Collaborative Research Centre “Transforma tions of Antiquity”, an interdisciplinary project at Humboldt University of Berlin, Free University of Berlin and Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Recently, she completed her second MA in Arts Management at the University of Manchester. She gained varied experience as a PR and Marketing Assistant for the interdisciplinary arts organisation Islington Mill and as a Development Intern at the Royal Exchange Theatre, where she discovered her passion for fundraising. She is particularly interested in the role of the arts in creative cities and strategies for collaborative fundraising.
Alessandra Green London Transport Museum Alessandra has worked at Warwick Arts Centre as the Marketing and Press Intern and as a Box Office Assistant, and has also volunteered in the Development Office at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Whilst at university, Alessandra interned at Armley Mills Industrial Museum and the Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at Leeds, and she is looking forward to gaining greater knowledge of arts fundraising and the heritage sector during the Fellowship.
Michael Adamson Studio Wayne McGregor Michael completed his BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance from leading dance and music institution, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. There he was elected Vice-president of Trinity Laban Students Union (TLSU). He also worked for Dance UK and the National Dance Teachers Association (NDTA), developing skills in arts fundraising, advocacy, marketing, and communications. Michael believes that every person should have the entitlement to experience dance and that fundraising is essential for the future of the arts.
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