Vicky Holbrough (she/her) is a co-founder and director of artist-led visual arts organisation Navigator North who develop and support visual artists and creative communities in the Tees Valley region. Her role includes the development of creative spaces, artist studios, cultural and professional development programmes. www.navigatornorth.co.uk.
Vicky’s visual arts practice spanning over 20 years, includes participatory projects, commissions and residencies. These have included several public art commissions in Tees Valley and County Durham. She is one of four artists who make up blimey! – a female led Darlington based artist collective currently exploring research led activity. www.blimeycollective.co.uk
Adam is Director of the climate hope organisation, Threads in the Ground. ‘Threads’ make opportunities for more people to be good ancestors. Their programme includes the world’s first fungal sculpture trail and a region-wide development programme for NPOs to grow cultural response to the climate crisis. They also deliver consultancy and training around climate hope.
Adam’s previous experiences include: Co-Director of the organisation development and fundraising consultancy, Adapt for Arts, Associate Consultant with the national cultural consultancy, people make it work, One of the youngest recipients of an MBA from Durham University Business School, Executive Director of the leading climate art and science organisation Invisible Dust
Dr Paul Richter is a Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University Business School, where he researches innovation and entrepreneurship narratives in relation to a number of practice settings, including cultural and creative activity. Paul has recently been involved in the ‘More than Meanwhile Spaces’ projects exploring more sustainable futures for artist-run initiatives and workspaces in the North East, and the ‘Making the Clayton Street Corridor’ project that seeks to support meaningful collaboration between grassroots artists/creative practitioners and policy-makers as Newcastle’s Cultural and Creative Zone takes shape.
Paul has also been a Trustee at The Newbridge Project, Shieldfield for a number of years.
Gayle is a curator, researcher, and educator at Newcastle University. Her work explores the systems supporting the presentation of contemporary art, with a focus on curatorial practice and the evolving role of art and artists. In her teaching practice, Gayle encourages students to critically consider the context and conditions of art production, exhibition, and reception in relation to their own positionality within the local art ecology.
