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Meet our current Trustees...
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Vice Chair Frank Hayes
Biography: Creative Health Coordinator Frank has broad and varied experience as a photographer, illustrator and environmentalist as well as being the founder and Creative Director of For Enjoyment CIC, working within the arts in D&G for the last 15 years. Through this work, Frank has seen much success and recognition, including winning the D&G Community Champion Award. Frank is committed to nurturing the artistic ability within everyone and improving mental and social health, confidence and wellbeing through the power of art and creativity. He has developed productive partnerships with many organisations in D&G and throughout Scotland. Frank now works as Creative Programme Co-ordinator with OutPost Arts – Co-ordinators of Art in Healthcare for NHS D&G. Enhancing the wellbeing of patients staff and visitors through a comprehensive Arts programme.
Frank Hayes - Vice Chair
Joined the board: 2020, Vice Chair since 2022
Involvement with other charities:
Brings to the board:
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
Frank Hayes - Vice Chair
Joined the board: 2020, Vice Chair since 2022
Involvement with other charities:
- Trustee of the Shambellie House Trust
- Art in Healthcare Coordinator with OutPost Arts
- Creative Director of For Enjoyment CIC
- Steering group member of the Cultural Partnership for D&G
Brings to the board:
- Having 15 years experience of working in the arts in many different sectors in the region and setting up and running a successful Community Interest Company
- Building relationships with partners
- Experience in coordinating staff, managing accounts, venues, and exhibition programs
- Coordinating a multidisciplinary approach, liaising with many different organisations, third sector groups and artists to manage an exhibition programme, creative engagements for staff patients and visitors and site specific enhancements.
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
- To be the advocate for the arts in the region, Dumfries and Galloway is incredibly rich for arts and culture and DGU being the go to organisation to inform the public on what’s happening and also celebrating the arts.
- An organisation to break down barriers into arts and culture and to make them more accessible.
- To support emerging artists and creatives on their career paths and established professionals in making their voices heard.
- DGU will be a central point of contact for arts and culture and a “sign-poster”, its strength will come from the multitude of partners and members it works with and alongside in the region and across Scotland.
- An organisation that champions inclusivity and diversity in the sector and celebrates the wealth of talent in the region.
Treasurer, Yvonne Barber
Biography:
Yvonne has been involved in the arts since she was a teenager with Knowsley Youth Theatre in Liverpool. She is a qualified post-sixteen teacher. She did three years of drama school resulting in a degree and post-grad in Educational Management. She has been a manager in a large Further Education College and worked in education for over 25 years. In her current role she manages a Community Arts Centre in Sanquhar where her main role is that of fundraiser and overall responsibility for the Centre.
Yvonne Barber - Treasurer
Joined the board: 2022
Involvement with other charities: A' the Airts
Brings to the Board:
- Experience of charity compliance.
- Working within an arts-based setting.
- Knowing the network of arts organisations within Dumfries & Galloway
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
- That Dumfries and Galloway have a clear plan of action in terms of direction of DGU and others understand the goals of the organisation.
- Staffing fit to meet the needs of the membership
- More board capacity to deliver the new business plan.
Julian Watson
Biography:
Julian holds a degree in Fine Art, specialising in both its history and his own artistic practice. This was followed by a diploma in Picture Conservation. Currently, he works as a freelance consultant in the Third Sector and Community spheres, sometimes operating independently but frequently collaborating with others.
Julian's work transitioned to encompass the "total economics" of restoring historic buildings for new purposes, encompassing the benefits and challenges of such endeavours. This also included land management, social surveying, support, and programming associated with these projects.
Julian Watson
Joined the board: 2020
Biography continued...
Since 2014, Julian has worked as an independent associate consultant with Creetown Initiative. His projects have included:
Julian's recent projects include investigating the potential of Parton Kirk as a James Clerk Maxwell/Science Centre and an Ailsa Craig Centre for Go Girvan. He is currently working on Action Plans for three different rural communities in South West Scotland.
Involvement with other charities:
Board member of the South West Scotland branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association
Brings to the board:
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
Julian holds a degree in Fine Art, specialising in both its history and his own artistic practice. This was followed by a diploma in Picture Conservation. Currently, he works as a freelance consultant in the Third Sector and Community spheres, sometimes operating independently but frequently collaborating with others.
Julian's work transitioned to encompass the "total economics" of restoring historic buildings for new purposes, encompassing the benefits and challenges of such endeavours. This also included land management, social surveying, support, and programming associated with these projects.
Julian Watson
Joined the board: 2020
Biography continued...
Since 2014, Julian has worked as an independent associate consultant with Creetown Initiative. His projects have included:
- Options Appraisal and Business Plan for the Clan Hannay Society's Sorbie Tower (2015)
- Economic and Needs Study Report for the adaptation and expanded use of Kirkcudbright Parish Church (2016)
- Community Action Plans for Canonbie (2017) and Coldstream (2018)
Julian's recent projects include investigating the potential of Parton Kirk as a James Clerk Maxwell/Science Centre and an Ailsa Craig Centre for Go Girvan. He is currently working on Action Plans for three different rural communities in South West Scotland.
Involvement with other charities:
Board member of the South West Scotland branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association
Brings to the board:
- Listening; wide experience of the cultural sector beyond the main anchor points;
- Empathy with the lot of practising artists.
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
- DGU to become a strong and supportive advocacy organisation.
Lucy Lee
Biography:
Lucy is an artist and runs a creative business, The Old Mill in Palnackie. In the building is a gallery space and bookshop as well as a studio where they facilitate regular workshops on making 'sustainable' art materials with a focus on nature connection and cultural heritage.
She completed a BA (Hons) in ceramics in 2006, however this is no longer her medium. She worked several internships and volunteer roles, both in the UK and abroad in both arts organisations and otherwise.
Lucy Lee
Joined the board:2024
Biography continued...
has worked and continues to work with people with complex support needs and hopes to provide a creative supportive service in the future. She has experience in working one to one with autistic people in need of support, people with chronic fatigue and chronic pain, people with mental health challenges and people with learning differences. Although her main focus is the business, she continues to have part time roles and volunteer within this area, and am often learning about the experiences of people in her spare time.
Involvement with other charities:
Dumfries & Galloway ME and Fibromyalgia Network
Brings to the board:
- Growing a creative business from scratch in a rural village and working in other low paid jobs to support this business can be a common experience!
- Skills to adapt to what is available.
- Understanding challenges within the arts to work in line with environmental responsibility.
- Balancing being a professional artist, and running creative workshops
- Empathic to the difficulties in both being a practising artist as well as reducing environmental impacts.
- Experience of accessibility challenges for people living with chronic health conditions, accessibility needs and “mental health” conditions.
- Passionate about learning about accessibility to the arts when understanding spectra of culture and barriers such as wealth and class, and the effects of unconscious and conscious bias.
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
- That it continues to grow in the imagination of creatives in the whole of D&G, that people know how the organisation can support the growth of their projects and businesses, and feel part of an encouraging network. It has been a lifeline in feeling part of creative networks in D&G.
- That the organisation's network grows and that the network is a good representation of the people in the region.
- That it continues to offer vital training/education opportunities to creatives, such as training in being a freelancer and an info session on the Scottish artists union held summer 2023.
- That it listens to members and has good channels of communication about the organisation.
- That it works alongside other creative organisations in the area, with clear aims and ambitions, fulfilling roles which it has a unique ability and positioning to do working closely with the council and for a broad spectrum of creatives.
Davey Payne
Davey Payne
Joined the board: 2022
Biography:
Davey is a working class writer of poetry & prose which addresses issues of social and political injustice as well as the psycho-geography of rural and urban settings. A proven collaborator, he has worked with sound engineers, photographers and performing artists to contribute to digital art projects, festivals and radio shows. A confident public speaker with sound interpersonal qualities, he thrives when building rapport and fostering dynamic working relationships. As a team player he is comfortable working within fast-paced, time critical environments, working to deadlines, and equally capable of working independently.
Involvement with other charities: Volunteer, Archives, Dumfries Museum
Brings to the Board:
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
Joined the board: 2022
Biography:
Davey is a working class writer of poetry & prose which addresses issues of social and political injustice as well as the psycho-geography of rural and urban settings. A proven collaborator, he has worked with sound engineers, photographers and performing artists to contribute to digital art projects, festivals and radio shows. A confident public speaker with sound interpersonal qualities, he thrives when building rapport and fostering dynamic working relationships. As a team player he is comfortable working within fast-paced, time critical environments, working to deadlines, and equally capable of working independently.
Involvement with other charities: Volunteer, Archives, Dumfries Museum
Brings to the Board:
- Engagement
- Collaboration
- Communications
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
- That DGU can help the economic and touristic regeneration of Dumfries & Galloway and synergise sectors across South-West Scotland to celebrate the market town heritage and reconstitute them as Cultural, Creative & Culinary hubs for future generations of natives and visitors alike.
Steven Burnie
Biography:
Steven leads a team of artists to deliver workshops and one-to-one sessions to vulnerable adults and young people. This role includes several responsibilities, such as,
project monitoring and evaluation, ensuring outcomes meet funding criteria,
recruiting/interviewing, supporting and developing staff, establishing and growing partnerships and cross-sector partnerships.
Involvement with other charities: Turning Point Scotland
Brings to the Board:
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
Steven leads a team of artists to deliver workshops and one-to-one sessions to vulnerable adults and young people. This role includes several responsibilities, such as,
project monitoring and evaluation, ensuring outcomes meet funding criteria,
recruiting/interviewing, supporting and developing staff, establishing and growing partnerships and cross-sector partnerships.
Involvement with other charities: Turning Point Scotland
Brings to the Board:
- Creativity - open to new ideas.
- Empathy - ability to relate to people.
- Experience of working across sectors - a foot in both camps.
Hopes for DGU over the next 3 years:
- To have a clear identity with focused objectives.
- Development of a robust service delivery model.