As Chief Executive, I'm responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the organisation. This involves a wide range of duties including the exploration of new business opportunities, ensuring our social objectives remain central to the design and delivery of all our programmes and services.

Having studied at Falmouth School of Art and at Courtauld Institute, my background and professional expertise is firmly rooted in the visual arts. However, I am also passionate about theatre and poetry having spent many years working with small theatre companies, both as an actor and director.

In addition to my work at Creative United, I am involved in a voluntary capacity on the Board of a number of other arts organisations including Poet in the City, New Contemporaries and the Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust.

Sarah leads on the strategy and programme development for Creative United’s access to finance and business support work. From 2014- 16, this focused on delivering the Creative Industry Finance programme. From 2017 onwards, Sarah spearheaded the launch and delivery of a number of programmes, including Prosper, Forge and Prosper. In addition to her work at Creative United, Sarah is on the Board of Trustees for the Music Venue Trust.

Sarah studied Film and Drama, but music has always been her first love, having started her career in the creative industry by setting up her own booking agency getting bands into live music venues in London. A few years later she entered the world of grant-giving by becoming the Communications Manager for PRS for Music Foundation. 

As the Head of Programme Development for Creative United, I am responsible for leading on the strategic planning and development of Creative United’s consumer credit programmes, primarily the Own Art and Take it away schemes. Across both schemes we have a network of over 400 member galleries and musical instrument retailers with whom I provide sales and administrative support alongside the wider Consumer Credit team. I have been with Creative United since 2019 and am very pleased to be part of Creative United’s continued commitment of increasing social engagement in the arts and the growth of the creative industries.

My background is in the visual arts but I am passionate about all creative pursuits and particularly enjoy attending live music events. I studied at the Cardiff School of Art, obtaining a First in Art and Aesthetics in 2004 and am pleased to say that I continue my own practice as an artist and photographer in my spare time. Professionally, I have over 15 years’ experience in business management within the hospitality and retail sectors, including managing art galleries in the primary and secondary markets.

Please contact me if you have any questions about Own Art or the Take it away scheme. I would be very happy to hear from you.

Sam is a chartered accountant and finance professional, with an MBA from London Business School. She has pursued a parallel career in music-based research since completing a PhD at the Media and Arts Technology Doctoral Training Centre at Queen Mary University of London in 2015.

She has experience working with charities, commercial organisations and music conservatoires. She is Treasurer for Open Up Music, who create opportunities for young disabled people to take part in music-making in ensembles. Sam is also a musician, playing saxophone with a number of London based ensembles.

(Away on Maternity Leave)

I currently lead on the planning, management and delivery of Creative United’s business development initiatives, services and programmes such as Re:Create, Made Possible and our E-learning hub. In my role, I manage relationships with a range of stakeholders, strategic partners and creatives and help identify and develop new growth opportunities that align with Creative United’s goals.

Growing up multi-lingual, in one of the smallest countries in Europe, I love meeting people from different backgrounds and exchanging ideas. Since 2013, I’ve been working in a mix of project management, marketing, and content creation roles in the cultural sector across the UK, Luxembourg and Aotearoa-New Zealand. Most recently, I co-managed Luxembourg’s newly established National Centre for Industrial Culture, leading on their communications and project managing a monthly podcast and a large-scale exhibition, in the frame of the European Capital of Culture Esch2022.

As an arts lover, I’m interested in all forms of culture and creativity - I love discovering new music at gigs and going to exhibitions.

Susie has joined Creative United as a maternity cover to manage and develop a variety of Creative United's support programmes. These include the Re:Create business support programme and Creative United's E-learning offer.

With a background in music, design and communications Susie is passionate about supporting creative businesses to grow, thrive and be accessible to all. Before joining Creative United, Susie co-founded and ran a design business specialising in hospitality design, a Saturday music school and enjoyed a number of years working with the media for central and local government organisations.

As Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, it is my job to act as brand guardian across all Creative United’s programmes. My role will be to supervise and develop the work we all do to reach new audiences, maintain the quality and effectiveness of all our communications and ensure our marketing output is aligned with our social impact goals and priorities. I keep the website up to date, manage the production of blogs and editorial content, lead on the development of long term communications strategies.

After graduating with a degree in English Literature from the University of Lincoln, I’ve spent 8 years working in the creative and cultural sector, engaging with a wide range of audiences form galleries, theatres, and museums, to schools, local authorities, and funding bodies.

In addition to my work at Creative United, I also work with Get It Loud in Libraries, an organisation bringing emerging and established musical talent to play doorstep gigs in libraries across England and Scotland. The goal of this work is to challenge and change perceptions of libraries and to engage new audiences, particularly young people in using these unique and valuable community assets.

As Business and Social Impact Data Manager, I am responsible for data management, analysis and reporting for Creative United. I work with each team, across the Own Art and Take it away programmes and our business development projects, to report on our goals and evidence our social impact.

My background is in both History and Art. I studied History at the University of Cambridge and then attended art school where I specialised in illustration and stationery design. Finally, I combined my two loves and completed an MA in History of Art and Archaeology of East Asia at SOAS. Since then, I have worked in both the museum and theatre industries.

My passion for the arts, history and inclusion continues outside of work where I am a tour guide for the award-winning LGBTQIA+ Tours at the Victoria and Albert Museum and co-run Housmans Queer Book Club. I also spend as much time as I can on research and am currently fascinated by the publishing industry and theatre fandoms in Edo Period Japan.

As Communications Officer I play an active part in the effective planning and delivery of Creative United’s internal and external communication activities. This includes relationship management with key stakeholders and partner organisations, such as our Own Art and Take it away members, as well as working collaboratively across all departments to maintain strong internal communications. I also co-ordinate and manage the events that Creative United attends, including Art Fairs, galleries and exhibitions.

My educational background is rooted in art, history and visual culture, having achieved a BA in Art History and an MA in Medieval Studies from the University of Bristol. I began working in the Culture sector as a member of the Front of House team at the RWA gallery in Bristol, and later moved into to the Marketing Department. I spent a wonderful year volunteering with the Art Therapy charity, Studio Upstairs, helping to provide long term mental health support for some of Bristol’s most vulnerable people, through creative expression and exploration.

I am a self-taught artist and craftsperson, working mostly in textiles, but I like to explore different mediums as well. My work is inspired all sorts of things: medieval images, ritual objects, folklore and my lovely cat Ginge, and each piece can take weeks or even months to complete. It is a deeply meditative and mindful process, in which the extended narrative of making helps me to stay grounded and engaged with the things that I love. Creative United works to help people from all walks of life have better access to different arts environments, with a strong focus on the individuals, on the artists themselves. As an artist, this is something that I resonate with.

As Digital Marketing Officer I look after Creative United’s digital presence, creative content, and the development of communications strategies. With a BA in English Literature with Creative Writing (UEA), an MA in Creative and Life Writing (Goldsmiths), and a journey through the world of marketing starting in 2018, I enjoy creative approaches to language and communication.

Alongside working at Creative United, I publish and perform poetry. My writing usually revolves around the aesthetics of the every day, mixed-race heritage, and queer love.

As the Membership Development Manager at Creative United, I manage the onboarding, training, and ongoing support for members of the Own Art and Take it away schemes. As part of the Consumer Credit team, I’m the first point of contact for any questions related to these schemes — please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

I come from an acting background, having graduated with a First in Theatre Studies from The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and later earning an MA in Classical Acting from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating with Distinction. Over the years, I’ve worked as a professional actor across the UK and Europe, performing at venues such as The Arcola and the Globe Theatre. A highlight of my career was touring with Hamlet in the leading role, and my final professional acting project was playing Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment.

Outside of Creative United, I continue to perform regularly, writing and playing original music as part of my folk-rock duo, Weaver Line.

As bookkeeper of Creative United my responsibilities are to make sure the financial management of the organisation runs smoothly and accurately and to support the Director of Finance and Budget Holders with their financial, accounting and forecasting needs. 

 Having qualified as a chartered accountant some years ago, I have worked in mainly media and creative industries for most of my career. Outside of work I have always enjoyed going to gigs, the theatre and art galleries as well as travelling (and bringing up my family). I also have been practicing yoga regularly for 30 years and qualified as a yoga teacher in 2009 when living in Hong Kong. My practice and teaching influences my approach to living and has helped me through an extremely difficult family trauma.