Three people stood round a fire

Team

b-side > About Us > Team

Registered Office:

b-side CIC,
Outpost,
77 Fortuneswell, 
Isle of Portland, 
DT5 1LY
 
Telephone: 01305 568 044

The b-side team

Image of a woman smiling

Rocca Holly-Nambi: Director

Hello! I am passionate about sparking connections and new conversations between people, be it through festivals, radio shows, or writing. Prior to joining the wonderful team at b-side, I was the British Council’s Head of Arts East Africa, and subsequently Director of Arts Sub-Saharan Africa.

I co-founded and directed 32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust, a centre for contemporary art in Kampala, Uganda; and KLA ART, Kampala’s biennial public art festival.

I received an MA in Contemporary Art Theory at Edinburgh College of Art and I am currently undertaking a practice-based PhD in Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London. The PhD is exploring queer abstraction in Kenya and Uganda’s art scenes.

Contact: rocca@b-side.org.uk

Sandy Kirkby

Sandy Kirkby: Creative Producer and Marketing Manager

I originally trained as a sculptor. I have worked in the cultural sector in Dorset for over 20 years in galleries, museums and events as a curator and producer. My focus for many years was in gallery education and it’s this interest in communication and engagement that really motivates me.

Contact: sandy@b-side.org.uk

Amanda Wallwork

Amanda Wallwork: Co-Artistic Director (Environment & Heritage)

I originally trained in graphic design but have had a varied artistic career, from designing gig posters and indie record sleeves, to devising and illustrating children’s picture books. I now combine my own practice as a visual artist with curatorial work. My interests and influences lie in the areas of archaeology and geology and I specialise in heritage and environmental projects. I was artistic director for Sherborne House Arts developing the gallery programme and outreach projects before joining b-side. I enjoy working in a team and the challenge of working with outdoor and non-arts venues, rather than gallery spaces.

Contact: amanda@b-side.org.uk

Sally Watkins

Sally Watkins: Co-Artistic Director (People and Place)

I trained in site specific performance and later taught as an associate lecturer at Dartington College of Arts before returning to Dorset to work on b-side and my own arts practice. I'm particularly interested in the democracy of places; how and what we share with them as custodians, visitors and hosts. As co-artistic director for b-side I specifically work on social practice projects - supporting artworks created between artists, communities and researchers.

Contact: sally@b-side.org.uk

Molly Scarborough

Molly Scarborough: Access & Talent Development

I am a Dorset-based creative producer, project manager and performing artist. I am driven by social change, equality and voicing the unheard voices - 'the others' - who are often overlooked. Through my role at b-side I create tailor-made programmes and experiences that support emerging talent and help develop skills. We create opportunities for Dorset (& South West) based individuals wanting to develop their skillset and pursue a career in being an Artist, Producer, or Curator and have a go at making / producing / curating their own site-specific project. 

Contact: molly@b-side.org.uk

MANDY RATHBONE: ACCOUNTS

My working life started in theatre stage management but then I decided to swap city life for the countryside and took a year's course in farming, bookkeeping and secretarial skills.
I moved to Dorset in 1981 and was able to bring a lifetime of skills and my interests in the arts together, working in an administrative/accounting role for a number of Dorset-based arts organisations. I have worked for b-side since 2012 and have loved seeing it grow and flourish since its beginnings in 2010.
In my spare time I am also an Environmental Sound Artist, combining my loves of walking, photography and sound to create audio visual projects at my studio, Electric Backroom, in Symondsbury.
Image of woman smiling

Emma Murgatroyd: Marketing Assistant

Having grown up in rural Dorset I have always had a passion for the outdoors and natural landscapes. This is something that I have explored further while travelling, which also opened my eyes to the vast differences between cultures globally, and how they are represented through artwork. I have a special interest in Fibre Arts and often I try to utilise natural environments, such as the sea, to inspire my own creative energy. At University I studied Events Management, which is where I became fascinated with how the art of music can influence social identification into subcultures, as well as the practical ability to create shared experiences of art and culture.

Contact: emma@b-side.org.uk

A person in a red jacket, smiling in front of a wall

Martha Court: Assistant Festival Producer

I have always had a passion for arts and performance growing up, since being a part of my first site specific project during secondary school I have found an interest in combining arts with the landscape, culture and environment of Portland. I have always lived on the island and have found a specific interest in the geology and formation of Portland stone and the artwork that is produced by sculptures within the landscape. This is something I have explored further while working with Stromatic Dance Company as Executive Choreographer. Creating and performing site specific performances has only fuelled my passion for not only performing arts but also utilising natural spaces as performance spaces and challenging the ideas of norms within the arts.

Contact: martha@b-side.org.uk

Board of directors

Raina Summerson

Raina Summerson: Chair

Raina is CEO of Agincare and Chair of The Portland Economic Vision Group. "Having been an interested observer, both through enjoying the impressive outcome of b-side work as a member of the public, and in collaborating with the team through my other local work it is a privilege to now take on this role of Chair.

Recognition of the impact of the arts on local communities in respect of belonging, engagement, well-being and critical financial investment is increasing, and this work links in with my professional and personal passion for Portland and its community, as well as my personal love of the arts."

 

 

 

Nicole Ferdinand: Director

Nicole Ferdinand’s expertise is in Event Management. Early in her career in her native Trinidad and Tobago, she worked as a trainer to grassroots cultural organizations. Currently, she is a university lecturer and within B-side, her focus is on diversity and accessibility.  

Paula Crutchlow: Director

Paula is an artist and cultural geographer who has been making live events as a co-devisor and director with performers, visual artists and technologists in the UK and internationally since 1996. Her work with artist collective Blind Ditch (http://www.blindditch.org) creates collaborative and unexpected happenings in everyday spaces; often using participatory approaches and digital media to engage publics as thinking citizens and active spectators. Paula was an Associate Lecturer in Theatre at Dartington College of Arts 2001-10, and is currently an ESRC Post Doctoral Fellow in Human Geography at University of Exeter researching relationships between data, trade, place and values.

Simon Lee Dicker: Director

Simon is an artist and co-founder of OSR Projects based in rural Somerset. OSR Projects connects people through artist-led activity – exploring new ways to see, hear, feel and think and have been producing ambitious, playful and socially-engaged art exhibitions and events since 2011.

A photo of a woman wearing glasses

Jane Mcgregor: Director

Dr Jane McGregor is married with two grown-up children and works as a doctor in a London teaching hospital. She has a longstanding relationship with Portland and has owned a beach hut at West Weares for over 25 years, and a business in Chiswell for the last ten years. She is a director of Centuar Gallery Ltd (based in London) and is an active supporter of the arts and artists.

A picture of a woman in a blue top and sunglasses

Jo Jackson: Director

Jo Jackson is an artist, teacher and businesswoman. Since arriving at Hornsey in the summer of punk, she has morphed seamlessly from medical illustrator and graphic designer, to design teacher and food teacher to, gallery and cafe owner; Jo and her husband are now running a B&B and focusing on all things local on Portland.

With her roots now based firmly on Portland, she is committed to working with local groups to develop Portland as a world-class destination; she worked with Revive Portland and the Portland Community Partnership in the run up to the 2012 Games and developed a community garden with Chesil Community Trust. With her husband, she then opened The Jackson Gallery to provide a much-needed space for local artists to exhibit. It became a community hub and introduced Jo to the b-side team; the gallery is now the Outpost for b-side.

Gina Bolt: Trainee Director

Georgina resides on the Isle of Portland, deciding that the university route wasn't for her, she started to make connections within the local arts and culture sector in order to educate herself for a future career. Passionate about photography and the arts as a tool for social change.

Want to drop us a line?