Craftspace

Craftspace Council of Management Profiles

The Council of Management comprises members with diverse skills, selected both to work as a team, to make effective management decisions at quarterly meetings, and to be available for individual consultation to provide expertise in specialist areas.  The Council of Management sees itself as being primarily responsible for ensuring the proper governance, financial and organisational viability of Craftspace. It also comments on artistic policy but does not direct it.  Currently the Council of Management comprises nine voting members. Meetings are also attended by the relevant officers from Birmingham City Council and Arts Council West Midlands.

Matthew Rhodes (Chair)

Matthew Rhodes is Managing Director of Encraft Ltd, an innovative renewable energy and technology company with offices in Warwickshire and Wiltshire. Matthew brings general commercial and organizational management experience to the Board. He spent the first half of his career in large global corporations, and the latter in small creative startups, so has some understanding of both sides of the coin.

John Maries (Director)

Now retired after a career in the motor industry, his connection with Craftspace originated through a placement as part of the pilot “Business in the Arts” scheme in 1988. He has advised on marketing, cash flow forecasting and IT.

Richard Bateman (Director)

is Finance Director for Henley College, Coventry and has expertise in financial and personnel management as well as business planning.  He is also an active member of Arts in Business advisor bank undertaking placements within arts organisations.

Karina Thompson (Director)

is an internationally established maker.  She has exhibited widely and works to commission. She has experience as an exhibitor in Craftspace exhibitions and advises on issues relating to the crafts sector and practice, the higher education sector and international marketing.

Zoe Partington Sollinger (Director)

previously Co-ordinator of West Midlands Disability Arts Forum based in Birmingham and now working as a disability and access consultant.  As well as her general expertise in running an arts organisation, her expertise as a disabled person is in the area of disability, diversity and inclusion of disability art culture and practitioners within the arts. 

Bharat Patel (Director)

is a graphic designer working in Birmingham City Council's Department of Planning and Architecture.  His specialist area is the development of graphic design to promote community services.  He contributes specialist advice on visual communication, new media and web based projects. He also has knowledge relating issues of cultural diversity.

Sara Preisler (Director)

is a practising designer jeweller with a studio base at the Custard Factory in Birmingham where she also runs a crafts retail outlet. Her collections retail throughout the UK, supporting prominent customers such as The Royal Shakespeare Company, and Birmingham Royal Ballet, who continue to commission exclusive designs for their outlets. Sara contributes her considerable expertise and knowledge of the creative industries, the crafts sector and as a teacher in further education.

Stuart Henderson (Director)

Is Head of Personal Injury at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors in Birmingham. As well as being a legal specialist his skills include general management and planning and marketing strategy. His links with voluntary and private sector particularly in relation to disability related organisations and support groups are of benefit to Craftspace in widening its operating environment. He is also training to be a judge.

The Director of Craftspace acts as Secretary to the Council of Management and is responsible for duties relevant to that position.

Corinne Miller (Director)

Is Head of Wolverhampton Arts & Museums and has worked in museums since 1979. Her background is in the history of art and she spent 20 years as a curator in Leeds. She brings to the Board a knowledge of the public sector and arts and museum management.