Nancy Barrett

Director

Nancy is the Director of Creative Scene and leads on the creative vision and the long-term strategy for the programme. She is always on the hunt for ways to make sure great creative things happen in the future.

Nancy was born and grew up in Seacroft on the outskirts of Leeds. Of Irish heritage, she was reeling and jigging from an early age. Nancy began her career working as a community artist with Ordsall Community Arts in inner-city Salford, before taking on roles in local authority arts and cultural development, and leading the Arts Council’s flagship creative learning programme, Creative Partnerships, across Greater Manchester. She joined Creative Scene as Director in 2014. Away from her life on land, Nancy is the co-owner of a sailing boat and loves to take to the open seas in her free time.

What has been your highlight of the programme so far?

I love the diversity of the towns and villages, their distinct architecture and heritage, and so all the projects that have included producing work in unusual places, outside of the constraints of a traditional theatre, gallery or arts centre have been special to me – from lighting up the lake in Crow Nest Park, to commissioning new digital work for the annual HeckmondLIGHT illuminations.

But my personal favourite was becoming a Train Conductor for the evening to bring people from Dewsbury to Batley for an outdoor screening of a giant game of Bingo, projected onto the walls of the historic buildings by the station.

What are you looking forward to in the next five years?

I’m looking forward to working with our very talented and amazingly committed team and with the community here to continue to make fantastic creative things happen. We are thinking about new premises and more spaces for people to take part in creative activities, and we will be kicking off some special new commissions with local festivals. I fundamentally believe that cultural opportunity should be open to all and that the most interesting things happen when different people get together. So I’m also looking forward to getting more people, organisations, residents and artists around the table too as part of our ‘Culture Council ‘ initiative.

Gini Wilde

Freelance Communications Associate

Gini is an experienced marketeer in the tourism, arts and cultural sectors and has held various positions at both strategic and tactical levels over the years.

Gini started her career over 20 years ago as Tourism Assistant for Leeds City Council before taking the step into venues as Marketing Manager at the Millennium Commission project Magna Science Adventure Centre. Gini then went on to work for a leading, local Marketing and PR firm looking after all their museums, venues, and high-profile event clients.

Following the birth of her eldest daughter, Gini went freelance in 2013 and has since worked on some exciting projects including Dewsbury Creative Town Arts Programme, Woven and Sangam Festival in the Kirklees area. She has also held Marketing Manager positions on a freelance basis for several small and national museums.

Gini joins the Creative Scene team on a freelance basis and will look after all of our marketing and communications activity.

When Gini isn’t working, she loves spending time with her family, practising yoga, shopping and travelling especially if it’s by the sea!

Megan Bailey

Producer

Aamta Waheed

South Asian Communities Project Co-ordinator

Aamta is an experienced creative practitioner and an interdisciplinary Muslim artist. She holds a first-class BA Hons in Art Enterprise and an HND in Performance Arts (Production). Her creative practice focuses on exploring relational and concept art, particularly in the context of taboo subjects concerning Muslim and South Asian women.

Aamta will be working closely with South Asian communities in our area and developing a programme of events and activities throughout the year.