Dawn Claire Irvine
Dawn is an experienced arts manager and professional dancer who has held roles within the education, arts sector and academia. She is a Research Fellow (bold Project Manager) with the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research on the Experience of Dementia and is a Licentiate of UKA Dance as a Dancesport coach and Championship adjudicator. She is a trustee of the Forget Me Notes Project and joined the board of Curious Seed in 2022. She is passionate about person centred approaches that enable persons to flourish through the arts. Particular experience that Dawn brings to the board is in: creative engagement, arts producing, project management, creative ageing, developing dementia friendly and enabled communities, arts and health research and social leadership.
Isabel Moura Mendes
Isabel is a multilingual Portuguese-Cape Verdean international cultural and creative manager, with strong practice in international cultural relations, artistic exchange, and African film curation. She has been a board member for Curious Seed since 2017. Particular experience Isabel brings to the Board is: external representation/partnership management, experience of working within funding organisations and strategic planning, arts producing and project management and international cultural relations and brokering.
Lucy Mason
Chair
Lucy is an experienced arts management professional who has held a range of governance, consultancy and leadership roles in the performing arts. She has been Chair of Curious Seed since it became an independent company in 2015. Particular experience Lucy brings to the Board is: knowledge of the performing arts sector in Scotland, experience of producing and touring dance productions, company management, financial management, experience of working within funding organisations and strategic planning.
Nicholas Barton-Wines
Nicholas is a theatre maker who works in movement-based and socially engaged performance. His work has been seen across Scotland, East Anglia, and Europe. He co-founded Movers Group; an artist development programme for professional users of movement and is a co-ordinator of Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Nicholas joined the Board of Curious Seed in 2022.
JANIE HOPKINS-ELLIS
Janie has held leadership, strategic and developmental roles across the cultural sector. Currently Head of Learning and Engagement within National Museums Scotland, part of their Leadership team and a member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Peer Review College. Prior to this, Janie led Tramway international contemporary arts centre and oversaw festivals such as Glasgow International and Celtic Connections, as well as being ambassador for Glasgow City of Music within UNESCO’s Creative City Network. Janie is passionate about participatory practice and promoting the transformational power of cultural engagement, and brings knowledge of national agendas relating to culture and equality, fundraising, policy, change management and finance.
CHARLOTTE GROSS
Charlotte is a multicultural French, Spanish, and Swiss arts manager, based in Scotland since 2003. She brings experience in leadership and strategic roles across Marketing, Sales, Communications, and Digital domains. Her background includes work in music labels, national touring companies, and her current position within a multi-theatre organisation. Charlotte has a particular interest in audience development, branding, and digital innovation. She is a passionate advocate for the benefits of engaging in the arts.