Kerry Bartlett Executive Director
I joined Artsreach in 2012 after four years working as the marketing officer for The Exchange in Sturminster Newton. For me the beauty of rural touring lies in the transformation that takes place within our communities. So many people give their time to make just a moment of magic happen, and everybody does so with a passion and belief in bringing quality arts to their venue. It’s a fulfilling and exciting environment to work in.
Yvonne Gallimore Assistant Director
I have worked for Artsreach for over 20 years, initially as a freelance co-ordinator for visual arts projects, then as part of the team leading on our visual arts programme, the children’s programme, and any other exciting opportunities that come our way! I love working for Artsreach; I liken it to a hand knitted jumper created from an excellent pattern, put together with care and love to create a warm, individual and highest quality garment.
Marnie Shaw Administrator
I moved to Dorset in 1999 and can’t imagine a better place to live. I joined Artsreach in 2022 after 23 years working in Administration for Dorset Council’s Outdoor Education Service and four years working for the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. I love art and culture in (almost!) all its forms so am delighted to be able to support Artreach’s wonderful and varied programme. It will never cease to amaze me how such a small staff team and exceptional volunteer promoters can put on so many high-quality shows a year across the length and breadth of the county.
Kate Mellor Business Development Officer
I moved to Poole after living 10 years in big cities (Boston, New York City, London) and was thrilled to learn what a vibrant cultural scene there is in Dorset. Since moving here, I have been a regular attender at Artsreach events, so it has been a natural fit for me to bring my fundraising skills to the charity. Three of my favourite events have been the one woman play about ‘Mata Hari’ at Studland Village Hall, ‘Don Giovanni’ at Lytchett Matravers Village Hall, and seeing the Three Inch Fools at Springhead in Fontmell Magna. I look forward to more!
The Artsreach Board
Ian Scott Chair
Ian is a Board member and volunteer promoter in Buckland Newton, but was also previously the Artsreach Exec Director from 1990 – 2015, meaning he’s been involved with the scheme for almost 30yrs! Ian’s passion comes from the belief that Artsreach plays a vital role in being a fantastic network linking rural communities to live arts. Choosing his favourite event therefore is difficult, but it’s between Barachois at Bradford Peverell, Kneehigh’s 'Windfall' at Shillingstone Rec, Seckou Keita Quartet at Buckland Newton and, of course, any performance by the Old/New Rope String Band. Ian is also passionate about coffee, and has five portable stove top espresso pots (some of which work!).
Debbie Evans Vice Chair
Debbie has recently retired from the NHS having held a range of leadership and senior management positions across the health and social care sector. She has significant experience in planning and leading the development of integrated community services that support people to lead fuller and healthier lives closer to home. Debbie is passionate about developing healthy communities and is skilled in developing local partnerships and collaborations across organisations to enable this. She believes that Artsreach has an important role to play in community development in Dorset and is delighted to be able to support its work. Debbie lives in Purbeck and is a Trustee of a number of local charitable organisations as well as continuing to advise professionally.
Pat Pryor Vice Chair
Pat is an enthusiastic board member and has attended Artsreach events since moving to Dorset from Bristol twenty-three years ago. As former Literature Development Officer and then Culture and Community Planning Manager for Dorset County Council, Pat has experience of working in partnership with a wide range of Dorset organisations and of submitting funding applications. Having always been a culture vulture, Pat is delighted that Artsreach offers such a variety of unusual and cutting edge performance, as well as fantastic family shows, and visual arts exhibitions.
Francesca Hurrell
Francesca has been a promoter for Artsreach in the village of Drimpton since 2018, and has established strong support for a variety of diverse performances, which are always well received. Having recently retired from the NHS where she worked as a Nurse across a wide variety of settings, she is now enjoying a less stressful but equally busy life! She is a member of her village hall committee as well as the local Community Land Trust, and is involved with re-establishing the village amateur dramatic group! She believes that access to a wide variety of performance art, particularly in rural settings, enhances people's overall well-being by bringing communities together with events that entertain, engage and on occasionally challenge audiences, and is keen to explore more ways of achieving this in her role as a trustee.
Sam McLaughlin
Sam has worked in the charity arts sector for 22 years, with a strong background in finance and HR. She was Finance Manager at Unicorn Theatre for Children and General Manager at Battersea Arts Centre and currently works as General Manager at People’s Palace Projects. Since moving to Dorset to start a family in 2010, Sam has enjoyed taking her 2 children to Artsreach events and workshops over the last 5 years and loves the variety of work that Artsreach brings to Dorset, as well as the opportunity to travel to beautiful Dorset villages to see stimulating and engaging shows. She has been staggered by the passion and commitment of Artsreach promotors when visiting village halls and was delighted to see that the charity was looking for new board members. Sam’s focus on the board will be HR and finance.
Annette Newman
Annette has promoted Artsreach Performances and Workshops for over 16 years at Ibberton Hut following the major refurbishment of the intimate, rural, corrugated iron, wood lined hall with various grants. Stage lights, a sound system and a portable stage were included within the grant application – ideal for Artsreach Performances! Annette first came into contact with Artsreach when taking her own children to the family shows and creative summer workshops, and soon realised how fortunate she and her family was to have these marvellous experiences available within a few miles of her home. Upon retirement from teaching she joined the Artsreach Board in November 2018.
Jim Smyllie
After an early career in the arts, Jim spent twenty-five years in senior planning, strategy and management roles in the public sector and government, including ten years in the NHS. The last years of his executive career were spent working in the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, and then at Board level in Natural England, the national government advisory and delivery body for nature. More recently Jim was a Lay Member in the NHS, chaired one of the National Trust’s Regional Advisory Boards, and was a Trustee of the Landscape Institute. He is presently a Trustee of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, which runs the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery in Dorchester. Jim lives in Netherbury in west Dorset and is a passionate advocate of bringing the performing arts to local audiences.
Jeremy Stein
Jeremy has had a range of leadership roles originally in publishing and for the last 18 years in the membership sector and events management. He brings a wealth of marketing and commercial development experience with him to support the Artsreach Team as it grows its ability to support Dorset communities and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation. Jeremy is a Trustee with a number of other Dorset based charities but jumped at the opportunity to be part of Artsreach as he recognised the significant role it plays in supporting rural life in Dorset. He combines a love of music, theatre and film with his passion for dinghy racing in Swanage Bay. Jeremy is the Volunteer Coordinator of the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage, but he also loves the opportunity of seeing Artsreach productions at the other brilliant venues in this corner of Dorset.
Sheila Wade
After 30 years running an SME based near Swindon and fulfilling contracts throughout the south of England in the environment management and construction sector, Sheila retired to rural Dorset in 2020. Aiming to continue with charity work, previously undertaken in Wiltshire side by side with her commercial experience, Sheila looked for opportunities to use skills developed in charity governance and charity financial management. Having experienced the variety and quality of performances delivered to her own village hall and to other local venues, Sheila hopes to contribute to the real difference the Artsreach team makes to many communities in Dorset.
