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Chief Executive, Forma
David Metcalfe is the founder and Chief Executive of Forma Arts and Media. David’s role in developing Forma’s programme involves working closely with artists throughout the creative process to provide critical feedback, production advice, and to develop strategies for securing funds and for distribution. The creation of Forma in 2002 followed eight years during which David worked as an independent producer and consultant, directing festivals and public art commissions for clients including Dance City, Newcastle; Arc, Stockton and Broadway, Nottingham. Between 1987 and 1994, David worked for Nottingham City Council, founding and directing its high profile annual festival of contemporary art, Now. David has also served as chair of Reckless Sleepers performance company from 1994 to 2005, on the management committee of Globe Gallery in Newcastle from 1997 to 2001, as an advisor to Arts Council on visual arts and live art, and a juror for several arts awards including Barclays New Stages.
Managing Director, Flo-culture
Katherine Pearson is the Managing Director of Flo-culture, an independent arts research and production company. She has over 20 years’ experience working as an arts director, producer and researcher. Her interests lie in socially engaged arts practice and producing work with artists in different public contexts.
Her previous jobs include – Director, Centre for Creativity & Learning, University of Sunderland; Chief Executive, National Glass Centre; Programme Director (Creative Partnerships), Arts Council England; Head of Arts Development and Public Art Officer, Sunderland City Council. She also worked as an artist and producer in Glasgow after graduating.
She has an MBA from the Open University (2002) and studied fine art at Glasgow School of Art (1987) and Moorhead State University, USA (1889), and was awarded a NESTA Cultural Leadership Fellowship Award between 2006 – 2008.
[ biography to follow shortly]
Partner and Head of the Commercial Team
Muckle LLP
Gill is a lawyer specialising in intellectual property and IT. She is experienced in drafting and negotiating complex intellectual property, IT and commercial contracts, including IP licences and assignments, procurement and supply contracts, research and development agreements and collaboration arrangements. She undertakes project management of large multi-partner projects, particularly involving both public and private sector bodies, often with competing or conflicting interests. Her clients range from start-up businesses and individuals to public companies and large public bodies and as a result she has broad knowledge of legal issues across a range of sectors, including the IT sector and the creative and cultural industries.
Head of Consultancy, Contemporary Art Society
Fabienne manages a portfolio of major public art commissions, corporate art collections and curatorial initiatives. Prior to this she was Project Director for Futurecity Arts, working on public art commissions and high-profile cultural regeneration projects including the Kinetica Museum in London. Based in Australia until 2003, Fabienne was until leaving Executive Director of Experimenta, Australia’s leading media arts agency. During her time with the organisation Fabienne was instrumental in setting up the Experimenta Biennale and a regional and international touring exhibition programme.
Head of Business Affairs, Channel 4 TV
Paul Grindey is an experienced media executive with a background in film, television and law and with broader interests including digital social innovation, cross-platform art and the future of the media/cultural sector. Currently Head Of Business Affairs, Scripted Content at Channel 4, he supervises Channel 4’s transactions across film, drama, comedy and other scripted content (recent highlights include Hunger, Slumdog Millionaire, and the Red Riding Trilogy, as well as being involved in various other Channel 4-wide matters such as Channel 4’s future strategies for film, on-demand and its public service role in the digital age.
Executive Director, Tate Liverpool
Having worked for Tate as Development Director for a number of years, Andrea Nixon took on the role of Executive Director at Tate Liverpool in 2006. She leads the gallery’s planning, communications, fundraising, external advocacy and operational delivery. She is a member of the Regional Council for Arts Council North West, on the Workforce Development Group for UK Visual Arts for The Creative & Cultural Skills Council, and is a Trustee of the Crafts Council and The Audience Agency.