The people holding the thread.
A small core team, a dedicated board, and a wide circle of Friends of DAN — artists, producers and champions of diversity in the arts.
Core team
Collaborates with colleagues to provide consultancy services advancing diversity in the sector, acting as a bridge between artists and venues, festivals, organisations and educational institutions across the South West. Mentors artists in industry skills, funding and connections. Established the Bristol Refugee Festival and Imalya, and is founding an organisation in Cornwall for diverse artists.
Leads diversification efforts through community and venue engagement, creating opportunities for the Diverse Artists Network. Moved to Artistic Director for DIASPORA!, DAN's annual city-wide festival, in 2024. Co-founded the Vocalise community magazine in St Pauls and serves as Community Engagement Officer for Bristol Refugee Festival.
Her career spans dance education, performance and production. Co-founded State of Emergency Ltd in 1986, later establishing the State of Trust charity, and led the National Strategic Alliance for Black Dance (2014-2017). Helped create the UK's first Black Dance Archive. Awarded an MBE in 2010 for her contributions to the arts.
Leads DAN's internal and external communications for visibility and engagement, developing integrated marketing strategies across digital platforms and events. Manages newsletters, CRM, social media and web content. Also Marketing Manager at The Wardrobe Theatre, collaborating with artists and organisations promoting diversity in the arts.
Cultural producer with a background in community organising and housing policy. Oversees artist onboarding, bookings, contract management and liaison, and develops partnerships with festivals and cultural organisations. Grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and values inclusive, women-led creative spaces. Advisory Board member at Rising Arts Agency.
Former circus performer and member of The Invisible Circus Collective since 2006, with a passion for transforming disused buildings into community spaces. Event coordinator and stage manager for large-scale productions, having worked with No Fit State Circus and Arcadia Spectacular. Joins DAN to support production, coordination and collaborative work.
Our board
Director, cinematographer and DJ with over 20 years producing music videos, features and commercials, whose directing challenges misinformation through cinematic storytelling. Featured in cinema releases including "Golden Years", Channel 4's "Random Acts", music videos and TV commercials. Developing a Bath-based youth project using innovative tech and collaborating with BBC's New Creatives. His DJ sets feature music from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
See Core Team — Artistic Director of Diverse Artists Network and of the DIASPORA! festival.
Her career spans over three decades. Passionate about inclusivity, she pioneers cutting-edge evaluation approaches across disciplines and art forms. Collaborates with Tate and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, shaping the cultural impact assessment landscape and advocating for an inclusive and equitable arts community.
Two decades weaving communities together through choreography and performance. Co-founded the Movema charity in 2009, with work that empowers underrepresented communities. Extensive background in theatre, education and community arts, using movement to forge connections and break barriers.
Former legal expert now focused on arts administration. Stands at the forefront of the environmental movement, leveraging art for change. Advocates for environmental causes and serves as an EDI specialist, believing in creativity's transformative potential.
After more than 30 years in Bristol, he has built a powerful community network merging music composition with strategic collaborations. Known for visionary thinking, networking, problem-solving and ambitious goal-setting. Aims to become an Ultrapreneur, leaving an entrepreneurial legacy through impactful projects.
Punjabi-British visual and dance artist in Bristol exploring joyful, authentic expression through movement. His "Moving Ink" project paints live dancers using the fluidity of Japanese Sumi-e ink. With a background in economics, he works as a financial strategist blending artistry and analysis for sustainable business strategies.
See Core Team — Founding Director of Diverse Artists Network.
Multi-disciplinary creative director, mentor and artist producer driving creatives in the South West, who began through youth mentoring work. Has performed, hosted events and curated experiences at Love Saves The Day, Glastonbury, Forwards Festival and Bristol Beacon. Director and Youth Guidance Mentor at ACE CIC, Operations Manager at BORN2BE Records and Outreach Lead for Big Team CIC. His roles include Musical Director, DJ, Workshop Facilitator, Radio Host, Creative Project Lead and Community Board Member.
Arts leader with over 20 years driving creative projects centred on diversity, inclusion and education, with a theatre background and specialisms in arts management and cultural policy. Has delivered high-quality programmes empowering emerging artists and underrepresented communities, leading multidisciplinary teams, building partnerships and producing large-scale events. A migrant from Latin America advocating for diverse voices. Currently Creative Manager at Creative Youth Network developing programmes for the South West region.
Friends of DAN
Our advisory circle — a community of artists and arts professionals who lend their experience to the network.