Islington is a creative powerhouse; arts and culture are at its heart. We want to harness and promote the energy and ideas of the creative sector, building meaningful networks that enable the borough's organizations and individuals to fulfill their creative potential.
At Creative Islington it's taking part that counts – we'll grow and flourish in direct proportion to the involvement and activities of our members. We're more interested in being told than doing the telling; we want to make sure that the creative connections that are the lifeblood of the community are encouraged and strengthened.
We're proud of the diversity and quality of the area's creative output and we want to shout about it. As well as providing a forum for sharing ideas and resources, Creative Islington also wants to ensure that residents and visitors have the information they need to make the most of what Islington has to offer.
Funded by Islington Council, Creative Islington is an independent, not for profit company limited by guarantee.
CREATIVE ISLINGTON STAFF
Creative Islington is run by a board made up of key representatives from the creative sector.
Graham is an independent project adviser, working across the public sector, specialising in strategic management, relationship building, and high-level facilitation and negotiation.
He was formerly a Project Director at the London Development Agency, heading up the creative industries programme, and leading the development of an international design and innovation programme. Prior to that he had been Head of Culture for the Greater London Authority, and between 1996 and 2000, was Director of Corporate Policy for Arts Council England.
Anthony Alderson
Anthony has worked with the Pleasance for over 20 years and has been director since 2005. Anthony has also worked with Cheek by Jowl, the National Theatre and Glynis Henderson Productions as associate producer for STOMP and Ennio Marchetto worldwide. Anthony is on the board of directors for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, The National Student Drama Festival, and as an advisor for Just for Laughs UK.
Fotene is currently working for the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in North London and is on the advisory committee for the Hornsey Road Baths Project. Born and bred in Islington, after gaining a BA in Fashion Design she was a fashion designer for four years, before changing careers and working for ILEA/Islington Council Youth Services as a tutor for 15 years. Since 2000 Fotene has worked on a variety of programmes and projects, in roles such as Positive Activities for Young People programme manager and Islington Education Week project coordinator. She has also worked as a freelance event coordinator and in creative programme development and outreach for young people.
Ruth Robinson is the Coordinator of Rowan Arts, an Islington based organisation that aims to use the arts as a catalyst for social change. She is Chair of Reel Islington, a volunteer led organisation that uses film to bring people together. She is a qualified psychoanalyst and worked in social research prior to working in the arts. She moved to London from Ireland in 1998.
Richard has worked in the arts for 20 years. He is Head of Development for National Youth Theatre, leading the fundraising for this national organisation that has a base on the Holloway Road. He has given money away (for Arts & Business and The Foyle Foundation amongst others) and asked for it (for Various Voices, a pan-European LGBT choral festival at the Southbank Centre in May 2009, and now for National Youth Theatre). He was a member of the advisory panel for Art on the Underground from 2004 to 2006 and has sung with the London Gay Men's Chorus at the Barbican, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Cadogan Hall, and in Paris, Helsinki and Turin.
James West
James is a marketing and partnership development professional. Islington based since 2007, James is an Assistant Director with Prevista Ltd; a multi-disciplined company specialising in cultural, economic and social regeneration. James brings creativity and flair to his work, but in equal measure brings a level head. Having supported creative and cultural businesses through various funded programmes, James is always keen to find new ways of working to reach a wider audience. Previously James ran an Arts Centre in South London, a leading Opera and Literature Festival in the Peak District and collaborated on a Birmingham based cultural exchanges programme between leading Dutch and British artists.
ADVISORY BOARD NETWORK
Jill Barton - Consultant (Education)
Verity Haines - Executive Director,
Fundraising and Engagement, WRVS (Fundraising)
Kate Kelly - Consultant
(Education)
Adam Wilson - Development
Coordinator, ICA (Fundraising)