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Spike Island announces the appointment of five new Trustees

Spike Island announces the appointment of five new Trustees

We are excited to announce the appointment of five new Trustees to our Board. Bringing a varied set of skills to the organisation, these new Board members will play a crucial role in forwarding Spike Island’s mission of positioning art as central to society. They will help us widen access to the arts in the South West, and support our commitments to sustainability and inclusion.

APPOINTED SEPTEMBER 2023

  • Asmaa Jama, poet, filmmaker and former Spike Island
    exhibiting artist
  • Tamsin Hong, Curator at Serpentine Gallery
  • Lenacha Lema, artist
  • Jane Sillis, Director of Engage, the National Association for Gallery
    Education
  • Piers Tincknell, CEO of Atomic Smash and former Spike Island Workspace
    tenant

The new trustees will join our existing board members, including:

  • Lucy Bailey, Legal Counsel at the National Theatre
  • Linda Brothwell, artist and Spike Island studio holder
  • Louise O’Donnell, Former Chief Executive of John James Bristol Foundation
  • Catherine Frankpitt, Founder and Director, Strike Communications
  • Bill Gething, architect and sustainability consultant
  • Marie Bak Mortensen, Director, Create London
  • Paula Newport, Director of People and Culture, Aardman Animations Ltd
  • Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, University
    of Bristol (Chair of the Board)

Judith Squires, Chair, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome such a talented and diverse group of new trustees, who each have exceptional practical experience in fields that are key to our organisation’s future development, as well as genuine enthusiasm for the work of Spike Island. I look forward to working with them all to realise our ambitious programme of activities.”

Robert Leckie, Director, said:

“The appointment of these new trustees is very exciting news for Spike Island as we strive to grow, improve and better represent the communities we serve. The range of expertise that each member brings to the Board will be pivotal in helping us diversify our business model and develop our artistic progtramme moving forward.”

ASMAA JAMA

Asmaa Jama is a Somali artist, poet and filmmaker based in Bristol. As a poet and writer, Jama has been commended for the Brunel African Poetry Prize, shortlisted for the Wasafiri Writing Prize, the New Poets Prize and James Berry Poetry prize, and longlisted in the National Poetry Competition. Their work has been published in magazines and journals such as Poetry Review, The Good Journal, Ambit, Ballast and Magma, and translated into French, German, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish and Swahili. Their writing has been commissioned by Arnolfini (Bristol), Hayward Gallery (London) and Ifa gallery (Brussels). Jama was a Cave Canem Fellow 2021. Jama is a Film London FLAMIN Fellow (2022) and a resident artist at Somerset House Studios.

“I’m excited about supporting Spike Island to think about ways to continue putting on exciting work and encouraging artistic development in the South West and among the wider artistic community”

TAMSIN HONG

Tamsin Hong is a contemporary international art curator based in London. Hong’s research interests include women’s knowledge systems and embodied practices. Born on unceded Ngunnawal Country, Hong is Exhibitions Curator at Serpentine Gallery, London. Formerly, she was Assistant Curator at Tate Modern where she specialised in performance; worked on African and Australian acquisitions; and co-curated the land rights exhibition A Year in Art: Australia 1992.

“Spike Island supports a dynamic community of artists and creatives with its impressive, multipurpose building that includes artist studios and exhibition spaces. Situated in vibrant Bristol, it is one of the most exciting centres for contemporary art and I’m delighted to share my skills and experience as a trustee.”

PIERS TINCKNELL

Piers Tincknell is a Bristol digital agency owner who started their business, Atomic Smash in Spike Island Workspace in 2010, going on to work with several large arts and culture organisations in the city, including Bristol Pride, SS Great Britain, KWMC and Bristol Ideas. His focus in on commercial viability and sustainable growth.

“I’m excited to join Spike Island as a trustee as it has such a unique offering for the people of Bristol, from international art gallery to commercial working space. As a workspace, it has given me so much, I wanted to give back and help ensure it continues to serve the people who need it.”

LENACHA LEMA

Lenacha Lema is a multimedia visual artist based in Greater Manchester. She is an advocate of greater accessibility in the arts.

To be able to be a trustee of an organisation engrossed in the artistry and development of creatives is an incredible opportunity. Spike Island has a unique and innovative approach, which is refreshing to engage with in the current art climate.”

JANE SILLIS

Jane Sillis is the Director of Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education, the lead organisation for visual arts engagement and participation in the UK. Jane brings experience of working with audiences new to the visual arts. Jane serves on the Sharpham Trust, Devon and has been a trustee of Chisenhale Gallery and Iniva, the Institute for International Visual Arts.

“I’m delighted to join the Spike Island board. I’m really committed to supporting visual artists and enabling audiences to engage with the arts, which are both areas Spike Island excels at”

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For further information please contact Niquita Munowenyu, Communications Manager at Spike Island on niquita.munowenyu@spikeisland.org.uk or +44 (0)1179292266.