Our themes are guided by Working Groups of subject specialists. They are led by members of our Advisory Council and supported by Fellows, and partner organisations. Each Working Group identifies a topical issue around which to focus an annual theme, and then supports its delivery and promotion. Members are available to help Fellows in that theme with advice and networking.
Working Group memberSusanne Burns CF
Susanne Burns has worked in the arts and cultural sector since the mid 1980s at a senior leadership level. She has directed her own consultancy since 2004 and has extensive experience of working in Higher Education. She is based in Sunderland. Her Fellowship in 2017 focused on approaches to supporting Self Employed Artists.
Working Group memberMarc Cairns CF
Marc Cairns is the Managing Director of New Practice, an architecture practice based in Glasgow and London. In 2020, Marc was appointed as an Associate at Design Council and as Regional Lead for Architecture LGBT+ in Scotland. His Fellowship in 2016 focused on the role of young people as active citizens across the Balkans and Central West Asia.
Working Group memberNick Danziger CF
Nick Danziger is a member of our Advisory Council, a Churchill Fellow and a renowned photojournalist specialising in global issues. He has won numerous documentary and photography awards, including the Prix Italia for a BBC film and a World Press 1st prize. He has published and exhibited photography worldwide and leads trainings in visual media, human rights and advocacy across the world. Nick’s work is held by many museums and has won the Royal Geographical Society's Ness Award.
Working Group memberKarin Diamond CF
Karin Diamond is Artistic Director of Re-Live, an Arts in Health organisation providing a creative programme of Life Story Work and theatre productions with underrepresented voices in our society including people living with dementia, older people and veterans living with PTSD. Her Fellowship in 2010 focused on creative approaches in dementia care with Dr Yukimi Uchide in Japan.
Working Group memberProfessor Paul Greenhalgh
Professor Paul Greenhalgh is a member of our Advisory Council and is Director of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, where he is also Professor of Art History and Museum Strategy. A historian, writer, curator and manager in the visual arts, Paul has been Head of Research at the V&A Museum and a tutor at the Royal College of Art, University College Cardiff and Camberwell College of Art.
Working Group memberRuth Heritage CF
Ruth Heritage is the Creative Director of They Eat Culture, a non-¬profit arts and cultural production company based in Preston, Lancashire. Her Fellowship in 2011 explored arts and cultural contexts of public engagement, social inclusion, and regeneration.
Working Group memberMaria Iredale CF
Maria Iredale sits on our board of Trustees and is also a Churchill Fellow. She is Executive Director of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, a membership association for individuals in the sub-surface energy industries. Maria was formerly Chief Executive at Letchworth Arts Centre and undertook her Fellowship in 2012 focusing on art as a catalyst for community regeneration.
Working Group memberKate Organ CF
Kate Organ is a member of our Advisory Council and a Churchill Fellow. Her experience in the cultural sector has spanned work as a theatre practitioner to policy and management across a breadth of artforms and contexts nationally. She is a champion of arts practice by and for communities that have least access to mainstream arts. She was the Baring Foundation’s Arts Adviser, focusing on their programme for Arts and Older People.
Working Group memberRajni Patel CF
Rajni Patel is a Relationship Manager, Children, Young People and Learning with Arts Council England. He is also founder of Old Skills New Ways which offers children the opportunity to explore their creativity and nurture their connection with nature through traditional craft activities outdoors. His Fellowship in 2017 explored the interplay between traditional and contemporary craft-making practices and new approaches to craft education.
Working Group memberDavid Slater CF
David Slater is an associate of participatory arts company Entelechy Arts. His 2010 Fellowship focused on the role of the arts in supporting the social inclusion of isolated older people.
Working Group memberFlora Soames
Flora Soames is a member of our Advisory Council. She is a design consultant, named as one of the UK’s top House & Garden 100 interior designers. She was the Creative Director of Talisman, and in running her various UK enterprises, a champion for British and traditional craftsmanship.
Working Group memberSusanne Burns CF
Susanne Burns has worked in the arts and cultural sector since the mid 1980s at a senior leadership level. She has directed her own consultancy since 2004 and has extensive experience of working in Higher Education. She is based in Sunderland. Her Fellowship in 2017 focused on approaches to supporting Self Employed Artists.
Working Group memberMarc Cairns CF
Marc Cairns is the Managing Director of New Practice, an architecture practice based in Glasgow and London. In 2020, Marc was appointed as an Associate at Design Council and as Regional Lead for Architecture LGBT+ in Scotland. His Fellowship in 2016 focused on the role of young people as active citizens across the Balkans and Central West Asia.
Working Group memberNick Danziger CF
Nick Danziger is a member of our Advisory Council, a Churchill Fellow and a renowned photojournalist specialising in global issues. He has won numerous documentary and photography awards, including the Prix Italia for a BBC film and a World Press 1st prize. He has published and exhibited photography worldwide and leads trainings in visual media, human rights and advocacy across the world. Nick’s work is held by many museums and has won the Royal Geographical Society's Ness Award.
Working Group memberKarin Diamond CF
Karin Diamond is Artistic Director of Re-Live, an Arts in Health organisation providing a creative programme of Life Story Work and theatre productions with underrepresented voices in our society including people living with dementia, older people and veterans living with PTSD. Her Fellowship in 2010 focused on creative approaches in dementia care with Dr Yukimi Uchide in Japan.
Working Group memberProfessor Paul Greenhalgh
Professor Paul Greenhalgh is a member of our Advisory Council and is Director of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, where he is also Professor of Art History and Museum Strategy. A historian, writer, curator and manager in the visual arts, Paul has been Head of Research at the V&A Museum and a tutor at the Royal College of Art, University College Cardiff and Camberwell College of Art.
Working Group memberRuth Heritage CF
Ruth Heritage is the Creative Director of They Eat Culture, a non-¬profit arts and cultural production company based in Preston, Lancashire. Her Fellowship in 2011 explored arts and cultural contexts of public engagement, social inclusion, and regeneration.
Working Group memberMaria Iredale CF
Maria Iredale sits on our board of Trustees and is also a Churchill Fellow. She is Executive Director of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, a membership association for individuals in the sub-surface energy industries. Maria was formerly Chief Executive at Letchworth Arts Centre and undertook her Fellowship in 2012 focusing on art as a catalyst for community regeneration.
Working Group memberKate Organ CF
Kate Organ is a member of our Advisory Council and a Churchill Fellow. Her experience in the cultural sector has spanned work as a theatre practitioner to policy and management across a breadth of artforms and contexts nationally. She is a champion of arts practice by and for communities that have least access to mainstream arts. She was the Baring Foundation’s Arts Adviser, focusing on their programme for Arts and Older People.
Working Group memberRajni Patel CF
Rajni Patel is a Relationship Manager, Children, Young People and Learning with Arts Council England. He is also founder of Old Skills New Ways which offers children the opportunity to explore their creativity and nurture their connection with nature through traditional craft activities outdoors. His Fellowship in 2017 explored the interplay between traditional and contemporary craft-making practices and new approaches to craft education.
Working Group memberDavid Slater CF
David Slater is an associate of participatory arts company Entelechy Arts. His 2010 Fellowship focused on the role of the arts in supporting the social inclusion of isolated older people.
Working Group memberFlora Soames
Flora Soames is a member of our Advisory Council. She is a design consultant, named as one of the UK’s top House & Garden 100 interior designers. She was the Creative Director of Talisman, and in running her various UK enterprises, a champion for British and traditional craftsmanship.
