Industry News

The Bowes Museum is excited to announce the 17 dynamic individuals selected to Durham
Creative Community Fellows, a free and innovative learning experience for people driving positive
change in County Durham through arts and culture projects. The programme is delivered in
partnership with Derby Museums and the USA-based NAS. It is a component of the Into the Light
Place Partnership Initiative in County Durham.

Durham Creative Community Fellows empowers artists, community organisers, administrators
and creative entrepreneurs who are driving social and physical transformations in County Durham
to develop their leadership skills and take their arts and culture projects to the next level. The
fellowship’s nine-month journey includes a unique curriculum emphasising learning and growth,
featuring monthly online meetups, online group sessions facilitated by leadership coaches, an inperson convening and more. Participants will also form a community of practice throughout the
programme, drawing on their experiences to exchange knowledge, collaborate and hold each
other accountable.

"We welcome this incredible group of arts and culture leaders into Durham Creative Community
Fellows. The skills they will develop and the connections they will forge in this collaborative
learning environment will be instrumental in their growth as changemakers," said Hannah Fox,
Executive Director of The Bowes Museum.

"We look forward to the ways their work will enrich our community creatively and innovatively
while helping shape the future of cultural engagement in County Durham.”

Durham Creative Community Fellows is a partnership between The Bowes Museum, NAS, a USbased organisation that builds and supports diverse communities of cultural leaders and Derby
Museums. It is a strand of the Into the Light Place Partnership Initiative in County Durham, which
aims to develop enduring growth in the county by nurturing talent, broadening access to creative
education, enhancing skills, and facilitating engagement and connectivity over 2024-2027.

The Durham Creative Community Fellows curriculum was co-created by alumni of the successful
UK Creative Community Fellows programme to ensure participants gain relevant and proven tools
for advancing their projects. The programme’s teaching and facilitating team comprises artists,
academics and creative leaders from across the globe.

The following fellows were selected for their exceptional creativity, commitment to community
development, and potential to enact change in County Durham. Together they will build a
community of practice that is strengthened by their broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and
expertise.

Niamh Barclay
Danijel Borna Fiket
Ruth Flowers
Sarah Gent
Lizzie Lovejoy
Naomi Marklew
Gillian O'Mara
Hazel Oakes
Rupert Philbrick
Christine Powell
Ellen Ranson Howarth
Matthew Smith
Jackie Stonehouse
Rebecca Sullivan
Eleanor Thirlway
Sarah Wilson
Zara Worth

Learn more about the Durham Creative Community Fellows.