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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.
Director of Creative Partnerships Durham / Sunderland and the City of Sunderland's Head of Arts
Previously Chief Executive of the National Glass Centre, Katherine Pearson took up the new post Director of Creative Partnerships Durham / Sunderland and the City of Sunderland's Head of Arts within the Faculty of Education and Society at the University of Sunderland in 2009. Responsible for leading the development of a new research and practice development unit that explores the implications and applications of culture based creativity in the context of teaching and learning for children, young people and families.
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Freelance Curator/Producer
An experienced producer and curator working within different areas of contemporary art and design practices, Andrew Chetty specialised in the live presence within interactive media for real and virtual spaces. Previously co-director of futuresonic in Manchester, Head of New Media at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, Director of NOW and the international NOW festival in Nottingham, and Head of Exhibitions & Acting Deputy Director at the Public Gallery, West Bromwich. Andrew also curated “Our Cyborg Future: Me or Machine?” at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne and co-curated “Oasis Sorono”, a site-specific sound art exhibition at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
Partner and Head of Intellectual Property and Technology
Muckle LLP
Gill is a partner and head of the Commercial Team at Muckle LLP, specialising in intellectual property. She is experienced in drafting and negotiating complex intellectual property and commercial contracts, including IP licences, assignments, 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 intellectual property, IT and the internet and commercial contracts.
Gill is married with two children. She is also vice chair of the legal sector of Service Network, a regional support organisation for service providers.
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 in sponsorship and development since 1991., Andrea Nixon took on the role of Executive Director at Tate Liverpool in 2006. She leads the gallery’s vision f or planning, communications and fundraising to 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 Creative Cultural Skills, and a board member of Renaissance North West and All About Audiences .