Clore Leadership at 21: Bold cultural leadership for a complex world. Meet the 2024/25 Clore Fellows
This autumn, Clore Leadership is delighted to welcome the 2024/25 Clore Fellows as it celebrates 21 years of the Clore Fellowship.
Bold and courageous leadership has never been more crucial. The Clore Fellowship is specifically designed to equip cultural leaders with the mind-set, skills, and resilience they need to navigate these complex circumstances and thrive. By fostering leaders who can imagine it different and drive meaningful impact, the programme aims to strengthen the cultural sector’s capacity to address societal challenges and create interventions for change.
The Clore Fellowships are awarded to dynamic change-makers from across the arts and culture sector who exhibit vision, strategic thinking and an appetite or collaboration in leading the arts, culture and creativity for a positive impact on society.
This milestone cohort, comprises 24 exceptional leaders operating on a global scale. The diverse group represents a wide spectrum of the arts and cultural sector, covering at least ten cultural disciplines, and include a wide range of professional backgrounds from freelancers and practitioners to those working in small scale arts venues, as well as representatives from our largest cultural institutions
Geographically, the cohort showcases impressive diversity, with leaders from across the UK from Edinburgh to Epson, as well as Egypt, South Africa, Lebanon, Brazil, Mexico and Hong Kong. This international representation underscores Clore Leadership’s commitment to fostering global leadership in the arts and cultural sector.
The highly competitive recruitment process illuminated the complex landscape cultural leaders are still navigating following the aftermath of the pandemic years later, including balancing organisational sustainability with social responsibility, work-life balance, technological adaptation, and sector-wide advocacy in a challenging political and economic environment, as well as wellbeing, mental health and care being at the top of the agenda.
Clore Leadership believes that for society to flourish, it needs great culture, and great culture needs great leaders. So in this 21st year and beyond, our long-standing investment in sector leaders underscores our ambition to support and sustain a resilient and thriving arts and cultural sector.
Moira Sinclair, Chair of Clore Leadership, Chief Executive, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and herself a #Clore1 Fellow, welcomed the Fellows:
“As we celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Clore Fellowship, I am thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of leaders to our programme. For over two decades, Clore Leadership has been at the forefront of nurturing visionary cultural leaders, and this legacy continues with the Clore 20s. In today’s rapidly changing world, we need leaders who can ‘imagine it different’ – who can envision new possibilities and drive meaningful change in our sector. As a Clore Fellow myself, I know first-hand the transformative power of this experience. I’m excited to see how they will harness this opportunity to shape the future of arts and culture, continuing Clore Leadership’s proud tradition of fostering bold, innovative leadership for the next 21 years and beyond.”
Kate Bellamy, Director of the Clore Duffield Foundation said:
“After 21 years of proudly supporting Clore Leadership, we at the Clore Duffield Foundation are delighted to welcome this talented cohort of fellows, whose diverse perspectives and innovative ideas will undoubtedly shape the future of cultural leadership.”
Kate Atkinson, Head of Programmes at Clore Leadership said:
“It is hugely exciting to be working again with a dynamic group of leaders who demonstrate the capacity to make real, long lasting change in our sector.”
Clore Leadership is hugely grateful to the many strategic partners who have joined us in driving excellence and innovation in the leadership of culture. Our major funding partners are the Clore Duffield Foundation which initiated the programme in 2003 and Arts Council England, which funds the Fellowship and a range of other Clore Leadership programmes. In 2024 we are delighted that the Fellowship Programme also receives support from: a-n The Artists Information Company; the Arts and Humanities Research Council; Chevening Secretariat through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Dancers’ Career Development; the Gatsby Charitable Foundation; the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the Hong Kong Arts Development Council; the John Ellermann Foundation; The Linbury Trust; and National Trust.
The 2024/25 Fellows are:
Cultural Learning Fellowship
Supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation
Miranda Stearn
Miranda Stearn is a cultural professional with over 18 years’ experience working in the UK sector. She is equally at home in the spheres of combined arts, museums and heritage, with particular experience in cultural learning in local authority and university contexts. Currently Curator at Lancaster Arts, she helps shape a contemporary combined arts programme with a focus on social and environmental justice. Her previous experience includes arts and heritage development within a sector-leading local authority arts service, a learning-focussed policy role for a UK-wide funder, and Head of Learning at The Fitzwilliam Museum, part of University of Cambridge Museums.
Culture & Climate Leaders Fellowship
Supported by The Linbury Trust
Ella Saltmarshe
Ella Saltmarshe is a recognised global expert working at the intersection of culture and systems change. She is the director of The Culture Initiative, which harnesses the power of culture to enable all life on earth to thrive far into the future. This houses The Long Time Project , the multi-award-winning Long Time Academy podcast and Inter-Narratives in partnership with the Environmental Funders Network that exists to support narrative intelligence across movements. Alongside this, she continues to work to develop the field of futures, narrative and cultural change through thought-leadership and advising funders & CSOs.
Curators Fellowship
Supported by the John Ellerman Foundation
Rachael Lennon
Rachael Lennon is a curator and cultural practitioner, with particular interest in inclusive heritage.
Rachael is Chair of the UK’s Queer Heritage and Collections Network and specialist advisor to Queer Britain, the UK’s national LGBTQ+ museum. Having led the National Trust’s multi-award-winning Prejudice and Pride and Women and Power programmes, she is now based at Newcastle University.
Rachael is a Trustee of Beamish Museum and Red Hills Miners Hall in Durham. She has written for a range of publications and recently featured on BBC Woman’s Hour. Her book, Wedded Wife: A Feminist History of Marriage, was published in 2023.
Dance Fellowship
Supported by The Linbury Trust and Dancers’ Career Development
Annie Hanauer
Annie Hanauer is a contemporary dance artist who makes choreography, performs
extensively, and facilitates dancing in many different settings. She has worked across countries
and contexts for 16 years, with an established presence on international stages.
As a disabled artist often working with other disabled/crip collaborators, Annie is interested in
how bodies in motion can joyfully disrupt ideas of normativity, and how performance can be a
space to challenge societal assumptions connected to the body.
Duffield Fellowship
Supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation
Katie Elston
Katie Elston has worked in performing arts venues for over 16 years and is currently Head of Marketing and Communications at the Royal Albert Hall, where she leads on a landmark cross-departmental audience development project. She is passionate about developing the next generation of audiences and engaging young and diverse audiences in arts and culture.
Katie has over 10 years’ experience leading creative marketing and PR departments and is dedicated to developing and nurturing her teams. Previously Katie worked at the Roundhouse, Battersea Arts Centre and Tara Arts (now Tara Theatre). Katie also completed the Clore short course in 2017.
Angie Fullman
Angie Fullman has been the General Manager at Shakespeare’s Globe for over 3 years and has a background in organisational change projects, talent development and developing inclusive cultures in theatre organisations.
Angie has been a senior leader for 7 years. Her career started with ten years at the National Theatre, followed by roles at Charcoalblue, Frantic Assembly and Icon Theatre.
The focus of her work is creating positive working cultures, developing emerging talent and creating new programmes and systems within organisations. Angie wants to contribute to a cultural sector that offers meaningful opportunities to all for connection, community and shared experience.
John Giblin
At National Museums Scotland, John is responsible for the management and development of the teams who curate the museum’s art, design and cultural collections from Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, the display of these collections in 15 permanent galleries, and the strategic growth of this collection through purchase and donation.
John leads one of National Museums Scotland’s three strategic content areas, Colonial Histories and Legacies and with his global remit plays a central role in delivering the museum’s Strategic Aim 4, ensuring that the unique potential of our collections, expertise and programmes are shared and valued internationally.
Meneesha Kellay
Meneesha Kellay is a curator working across art, architecture, design, and performance. Currently the Senior Curator, Contemporary at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), she supports emerging creative practice through commissioning displays, installations, performances, and events. Meneesha has experience leading major events on London’s cultural calendar, such as the London Design Festival and London Festival of Architecture (LFA) at the V&A, and Open House London, reaching over a quarter of a million people. Meneesha is also co-curator of the British Pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2023 which received a Special Mention Award
Excellerate Fellowships
Supported by Arts Council England
Holly Elson
Holly Elson is Head of Programmes at Conway Hall Ethical Society. Her specialism is leadership in
creative production, public programming and strategic audience development. Prior to Conway
Hall, she produced public programmes for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Museum of
London, where she also founded the Women for Leadership Network, to provide a collaborative
space in which women are supported, encouraged and empowered to progress their careers.
Coming from a creative arts background, she is passionate about pushing boundaries in heritage
events, cross-arts programming and increasing access to creative and cultural experiences
Sameed Rezayan
Sameed Rezayan is a multifaceted artist and educator from Manchester. Initially immersed in the city’s underground rave scene, he became a globally touring DJ and producer. Rezayan hosts a show on NTS Radio, runs ELE Records, and produces music under his name. His work, deeply influenced by political themes, draws from hip-hop sampling and sociological perspectives. Rezayan has collaborated with notable artists and released critically acclaimed tracks. Beyond music, he contributes to culturally impactful education programs, including his role as Head of Learning at Factory International. His commitment to engaging young people from diverse backgrounds is central to his work, exemplified by initiatives like the Factory International Schools program.
National Trust Fellowship
Supported by the National Trust
Kirstie Arnould
Kirstie Arnould has an extensive background in fundraising and leads a team of experts in marketing, communications, visitor experience, gardens, and communities & participation for the National Trust in London and the South East. She has an MA in Public History and is committed to the power of oral history and telling hidden stories, particularly about mental health. The Epsom Cluster, her book on this subject, was published in 2019. A founding trustee of inspiring arts and community space The Horton and curator of its permanent exhibition, Kirstie is currently a trustee of Painshill Park in Surrey.
Tees Valley Fellowship
Supported by Arts Council England and Tees Valley Combined Authority
Phil Douglas
Phil Douglas is Chief Executive for leading LGBTQIA+ arts and youth charity Curious Arts. He has spent the past 16 years developing and delivering events, festivals and artistic projects across the North. Passionate about LGBTQIA+ culture, outdoor arts and dance, Phil is currently Executive Director of Rendez-Vous Dance, Trustee of theatre and creative learning charity Mortal Fools and charity Birkheads Wild where children build better futures for themselves using the outdoors. He’s a big fan of festivals, human rights, dogs and cake too.
Theatre Fellowship
Supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Amber Massie-Blomfield
Amber Massie-Blomfield is a theatre producer, arts consultant and writer. Formerly Executive Director of Complicité and Camden People’s Theatre, she has worked for clients including Actors Touring Company, tiata fahodzi, Barbican, Pro Helvetia, English PEN, Free Word Centre and China Plate. Her first book, Twenty Theatres to See Before You Die, was shortlisted for the Theatre Book Prize and the recipient of the Society of Authors’ Michael Meyer Award, as well as Gladstone Library’s Political Writer-in-Residence Award, and her second book, Acts of Resistance, is published in 2024. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, and as an activist, she has been involved with Writers Rebel and Extinction Rebellion.
Kris Nelson
Kris Nelson became Artistic Director/CEO of LIFT in 2018. At LIFT he focused on landmark presentations like Sun & Sea and The Second Woman, presenting leading international artists and commissioning world and UK premieres by British artists Sonia Hughes, Cade & MacAskill and Clean Break and international artists The Nest Collective, Nassim Soleimanpour/Omar Elerian, Janaina Leite/Lara Duarte and more. He launched the Concept Touring initiative, a new development programme for low-travel international collaboration. Kris was Festival Director of Dublin Fringe Festival, Ireland’s largest multi-disciplinary arts festival, from 2013-2017 and he founded the innovative Canadian performing arts touring agency Antonym.
Kimberley Sykes
Kimberley Sykes is a theatre maker and cultural organiser. Her directing credits include ‘The Whip’, ‘As You Like It’, and ‘Dido, Queen of Carthage’ (RSC), ‘Rough Girls’ (Lyric Belfast), ‘The Land of Might-Have-Been’ (Norwich Theatres) and ‘Romeo & Juliet’ (Regent’s Park).
She has curated cultural and community programmes for the Commonwealth Games and Lewisham Council. Kimberley has led R&D at National Theatre Studio, Donmar Warehouse and Headlong and been an RSC mentor and educational practitioner. Kimberley also received the Lewisham Mayor’s Award 2021 and was nominated for best director at UK Theatre Awards 2018.
Transform Fellowship
Supported by Arts Council England
Jade Ibegbuna
Jade Ibegbuna is Head of Cultural Partnerships at Bradford Council, leading on Bradford’s 10-year cultural sector strategy. Jade has led extensively in community and cultural engagement over the past 15 years in Yorkshire, London, Spain and Peru.
Jade has a clear insight into how effective engagement, building trusted relationships and creating safe spaces for challenging conversations can and does empower communities.
Jade is an award-winning engagement specialist and remains passionate about authentic inclusion, amplifying culture and diversifying changemaking.
JC Niala
JC Niala is the Head of Research, Teaching, and Collections at the History of Science Museum, University of Oxford. She is a passionate advocate for museums and heritage with an interest in the transformative potential of the arts. With extensive experience in community action research, she champions methodologies that democratize both research and museum spaces. JC has successfully led initiatives across UK museums to bring about policy change and foster inclusive cultural environments. As a Clore Leadership Programme participant, JC aims to enhance her leadership skills and contribute to ongoing development of sustainable practice. JC is also an award-winning writer.
International Fellowships
The Hong Kong Fellowship is supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Louis Siu
Louis Siu has cultivated a diverse and multifaceted career in the arts and cultural sphere. After attending the Aspen Music Festival on an Asian Cultural Council fellowship during his undergraduate studies, he went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory and a Master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Enterprise with distinction from Central Saint Martins.
Louis’ passion for cultural advancement has guided his path, from his time as a Teaching Artist with the San Francisco Symphony and Principal Percussionist with the Macao Orchestra, to his current role as Executive Artistic Director of Toolbox Percussion.
Anna Yau
Anna Yau is the founder of the Contemplate Cultural Community, a Hong Kong-based NPO for sustainable heritage conservation and management. Anna has more than 12 years of experience in the field covering project planning and management, museum curatorship and community engagement, as well as guest speaker and academic coordinator for Cultural Heritage Management postgraduate programmes in Asia Pacific countries. She was a key team member for UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Conservation Award projects and was selected as instructor of UNESCO living heritage training and MOOC course, and jury member of UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Conservation Award in 2021.
Chevening Fellowships
Chevening Fellowships are supported by the Chevening Secretariat at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Chevening offers individuals who show potential to inspire, inform, and influence positive change the opportunity to study at a UK university or organisation.
Sara Abed
Sara Hany Abed is a museums and heritage content researcher based in Alexandria, Egypt. She studied her MA in museums and heritage development at Nottingham Trent University with a focus on memorials and documentation in times of conflict. She worked on several major international museum projects including the Oman National Museum, Zayed National Museum through Barker Langham Museums Consultancy in London, and the development of the Naguib Mahfouz Museum in Cairo, through Shaboury Museums and Heritage Consultancy in Alexandria, The Egyptian Coffins Project and several other projects including community engagement activities and archival research through The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Sara is also a co-founder of Wassla, an initiative that promotes heritage and culture in Egypt and encourages connecting locals with their history through working with community leaders, cultural entities, community development organizations and museums including The Grand Egyptian Museum, The Graeco Roman Museum, and The Gayer Anderson Museum.
Tsosheletso Chidi
Tsosheletso Chidi is an independent literary curator, a bilingual poet and writer in Sepedi and English. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Rhodes University. Chidi’s notable works include The Baby Is Born and Dirurubele-Wandering Butterflies, which explores homosexuality in indigenous languages. She advocates for disadvantaged writers and preserving indigenous languages, emphasizing youth and women’s empowerment.
Cindy Mizher
Cindy Mizher is a strategic cultural sector specialist, driving organizational innovation and growth across the MENA region. With a 15+ year track record, she forges high-impact partnerships and dynamic networks to optimize cultural ecosystems. By leveraging deep industry expertise, Cindy works with cultural entities to achieve their full potential.
Carla Uller
Carla Uller is the Executive Manager of Oi Futuro, a Brazilian non-profit organization that fosters innovation and creativity for social impact. She oversees Culture and Education programmes across Brazil and manages a museum and a cultural center in Rio de Janeiro. Her work explores the convergence of art, science, and technology to address contemporary challenges, particularly democracy, disinformation, and climate. With a background in journalism, she holds a master’s degree in Communication and Culture and a specialization in Management. Previously, Carla also led engagement programmes at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Karla Gudiño-Yañez
Karla Gudiño-Yañez serves as the General Director of Crescendo con la Música México, a non-profit organization bringing quality music education to children in underprivileged environments.
She worked extensively in policy-making and implementing cultural and social development initiatives within the Mexican government, and teaches future lawyers and cultural managers at the university level. She holds an LLB and, as a Chevening alumna, earned an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies (UCL).
Karla enjoys nurturing people’s growth and believes music and beauty are essential in any future-making. She currently navigates motherhood alongside her husband and two fire-cracking sons.
