UK New Artists announces their new artist advisory group, ‘Creative ThinkTank’
Following a nationwide call out, UKNA is delighted to announce the first members of its new ‘Creative ThinkTank’.
The Creative ThinkThank is a new advisory panel whose members represent a diverse range of practices and perspectives from across the UK . The panel will contribute to the development of the organisation and its programming, to ensure that we are best meeting the needs of new artists and that the voice of artists is at the heart of what we do.
Abdullah Adekola, a Black-British working-class writer and performer who has been selected for Momentum in conjunction with Channel 4, and ‘New Creatives’ North talent development program by Arts Council England and BBC Arts.
Olwen Davies is a programmer, producer, lecturer and artist based in Nottingham specialising in live performance and practice. Over the past decade Olwen has toured and collaborated across the UK with her theatre company LaPelle’s Factory and as a solo practitioner.
Hannah Fredsgaard-Jones, is a composer, vocalist, songwriter and audio producer originally from Denmark, now residing in Oxford.
Hannaa Hamdache, an artist and curator of mixed English and Algerian heritage, who works to make the arts open for all through the use of humour and education.
SLQS, a Franco-Vietnamese artist living in East London. Her work is multi-disciplinary and provocative: it questions the politics of space and who is excluded from it.
Malgorzata Lisiecka is a visual artist, practising between public art, installation, costume, and performance. Malgorzata was a finalist in the Robert Walters Group UK Young Artist of the Year Award 2019, in collaboration with Saatchi Gallery.
Sophie Mak-Schram, an arts producer, historian, educator and occasional practitioner, based between The Netherlands, Reykjavik and London.
Daniel Oduntan is a London based interdisciplinary media artist, occupying the spaces between visual arts, sound and performance media.
Saziso Phiri is a Cultural Producer and Curator, working independently and in partnership with organisations and individuals.
Ana Silvério an award-winning dance artist from Brazil. She acts internationally as a teacher, choreographer, dancer and member of the judging committee for several art and dance festivals, and is currently based in Leeds.
Hoyee Tse originally trained as an art historian in European paintings, then expanded her interest in the relationship between art and society of the past, to the digital representation and preservation of visual culture of the present, and is currently studying at the Royal College of Art.
Gaynor Tutani (Art Adlib) is a curator, producer and writer who merges her various arts, culture, community and educational passions to produce exhibitions, events and commentaries on art and curating.
Madara Vimba, a Lincoln based artist predominantly working in live art and performance, with a particular passion for multidisciplinary collaboration.
UKNA also put out a call for three young creatives (aged 16-20) to join the Creative ThinkTank. We are pleased to welcome them to the group.
Tabie Addae-Boateng is a student and dancer. She is a member of the Dance4 Centre for Advanced Training and is soon to continue her training at Trinity Laban.
Ronia Iheama is a student, musician and writer. She is a Nottingham Young Creative Awards winner and has written for Mojatu magazine.
Sara Mahmood is a student and visual artist. She recently presented work with UKNA as part of 'A Little Bit of Rebellion' and has been working with Bantum Clothing and The Big House on PATCH, a new streetwear brand.
UKNA Trustee, Tanya Akrofi comments,
“It is with great delight that we welcome this eclectic group of artists and cultural producers, to join the Creative ThinkTank at UKNA. As part of our ongoing commitment to have creatives voices at the heart of what we do, we believe that these artists will ensure that we continue to be relevant in how we support the wider artistic community. We are excited to see how this collaboration will shape our work and ensure that we are making significant contributions to the UK’s vibrant arts community. Our ambition is that this new way of working, can be a model for others in our sector.”