Chief Executive, Vanessa Swann FRSA, MInstF, PgCertBA
Vanessa was appointed Chief Executive of Cockpit Arts in 2002. Since then she has transformed the organisation from a managed workspace to a creative-business incubator, actively supporting and promoting designer-makers. She has considerable experience of working with, and for, designer-makers and is a spokesperson and commentator on the sector. In 2011 she was awarded the Arts & Business Garrett Award for outstanding achievement in the encouragement of business support for the arts. She was previously the Deputy Director of the Design Museum and Director of the Commissioning Service at Contemporary Applied Arts. Prior to this she headed the RSA Art for Architecture scheme.
Head of Business Development, Ellen O’Hara
Ellen joined the Cockpit team in 2006 and has overall responsibility for Cockpit Arts’ business development services. She has worked with over 300 designer-makers to grow their businesses. Ellen is an accredited business coach and holds a degree in Economics from the University of Birmingham and a postgraduate diploma in administrative management. She heads Cockpit Arts’ research projects and offers a consultancy service. Ellen previously worked for The Prince’s Trust, Arts Council England and Andersen management consultancy.
Business Development Manager, Lucy Kyle
Lucy provides specialist training and one-to-one coaching in the areas of marketing, selling and business planning. Lucy is an accredited coach, adviser and trainer specialising in developing creative businesses and previously worked for 5 years at CIDA (Cultural Industries Development Agency) in East London. Lucy has a post graduate diploma in Marketing and previously held several senior marketing positions in the music and live events industry, both in the UK and Australia.
Business Information Manager, Imogen Gray
Imogen organises and promotes the Making It programme of workshops and events as well as managing the Making It online resource and toolkit. Imogen has a degree in Fine Art and has previously worked for Arts Council England assisting on London events, as well as working at Tate Britain and Contemporary Applied Arts.
Studio Manager at Cockpit Arts – Deptford, Beckie Kingman
Beckie is the friendly face of Cockpit Arts Deptford – managing the studios and office facilities and handling the application process. An experienced administrator, Beckie has worked in the private, public and voluntary sectors. She also works freelance for four UK charities and is a parent governor of a local school.
Studio Manager at Cockpit Arts – Holborn, Adrian Lee
Adrian is the friendly face of Cockpit Arts Holborn – managing the studios and office facilities and handling the application process. A practicing artist and the co-founder of successful contemporary art website Artvehicle, he has been in the business of facilities management for many years, running his own studio and overseeing two central London language schools.
Head of PR & Marketing, Josie Ballin
Josie works closely with Cockpit Arts’ designer-makers on devising high-profile PR campaigns and events that keep talent at Cockpit Arts in the spotlight. These include digital marketing, Open Studios and Culturelabel online shop. A design fanatic, she has an MA in Design Studies from Central Saint Martins and a BA in Design Studies from Nottingham Trent University. Josie joined the team at Cockpit in 2008 having worked in PR and Marketing with leading brands that include Agent Provocateur and Liberty and for creative organisations such as D&AD and Iniva.
Development Manager, Sally Dodson
Sally is responsible for a wide range of fundraising and earned income activities at Cockpit Arts including managing the Friends scheme, venue hire and private tours. Sally trained as a jeweller at London Guildhall University and then worked at the Crafts Council for seven years followed by four years at The Goldsmiths’ Company where she coordinated the annual Goldsmiths’ Fair event. She is also currently the Administrator of the Heritage Crafts Association 2 days a week.
External Specialists & Industry Figures include…
Bill Amberg, Beyonder, Crafts Council, Culturelabel, Priscilla Carluccio, Sarah Faberge (Turners’ Company), Andrew and Ian Foxall, Adam Glass, Sinead McManus, Carole Milner (The Radcliffe Trust), Own It & SEE, Mary Restieaux, Joey Richardson, Nigel Rust, Dean Shepherd, UKTI