The St Hugh’s Foundation for the Arts welcomes new Trustees
The St Hugh’s Foundation for the Arts is delighted to announce three new Trustees joining their team from 2021 - Tanya Akrofi, Tom Briggs and Annabel McCourt.
Tanya Akrofi is a writer and oral storyteller who takes inspiration from myth and folklore, bringing their magic to the telling of true life tales. She is a workshop facilitator, mentor to young creatives and a community arts advocate, helping to shape arts-based solutions to current social issues.
Tanya says of her appointment “I have seen first-hand how the Foundation supports artists. I have experienced the confidence which comes from knowing that I have a security blanket of mentors, committed to my ongoing development. I want to be part of giving this same support and encouragement to other artists.”
Tom Briggs is a producer working primarily in community decision making and co-creation with communities in Northamptonshire. He studied Drama at University of Lincoln before co-founding Flickbook Theatre & Spud Collective, which created new networks, workshops and platforms for artists in Lincolnshire.
Tom describes: “In these increasingly difficult times, I am excited to play some part in helping to ensure that local artists, at all stages of their career are supported to make their work here.”
Annabel McCourt is a contemporary artist whose work ranges from lens-based gritty social-realism, through to installation art, moving image, public art and architectural interventions inspired by fact, folklore and legend. With over 20 years of industry experience, including exhibiting internationally, she describes: “I passionately believe in promoting and pushing at the boundaries of all artistic forms, especially in our region and want to facilitate other artists in the pursuit of artistic development, experimentation and excellence.”
Katie Green, current Chair of the St Hugh’s Foundation for the Arts describes: “We are so pleased to welcome Tanya, Tom and Annabel, who have all been supported by the Foundation in the past either as Award recipients or as collaborators on our professional development work. They bring a wealth of experience across different areas of arts practice and a fresh perspective at a time when we need to ensure we are doing all we can to respond to the changing needs of artists in our area.”
Details about the St Hugh’s Foundation’s next phase of ‘Artists Respond’ awards will be published online at https://www.sthughsfoundation.co.uk/ early in January 2022.