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Who We Are

 

Faceless Arts formed in 1990, to increase access to the arts in the outdoors.  The company started its' journey exploring non-verbal visual physical street theatre using Commedia half masks and Lazzi (comic interludes). By the mid 1990's the company extended the visual impact of its character based work by developing the half mask into full body masks and the walkabout characters were born. 

 

At the same time, the company began to deliver participatory community arts projects in the outdoors with communties as narrative, site specific performances or parades. It became a natural progression for the company to be involved in event management, delivering its first Wakefield Kite Festival in 2001 and managing, on behalf of Pontefract Liquorice Trust, the Pontefract Liquorice Festival between 2000 and 2008.

 

Faceless Arts is now actively involved in the development of the outdoor arts sector by offering training, workshops and participatory projects. The company's Artistic Director sits on the board of ISAN - Independant Street Arts Network (a national sector development organisation for Outdoor Arts) and is a founder member of EFETSA, the EU Federation for Education and Training in Street Arts.  Faceless Arts has published writings and delivered a number of  conferences on outdoor and community arts. 

Bev Adams
Artistic Director & CEO
 
MA Performance, Culture & Context, University of Leeds  & BA Hons Theatre Arts, Bretton Hall.

Educated in South Africa, Bretton Hall and Leeds University in Yorkshire, Gitis Academy, Moscow and Middlesex University, London, Bev specialises in socially engaged ensemble performance using Mask, Puppetry, Object Theatre and Biomechanics.

 

Since founding Faceless Arts in 1990, Bev continues to perform, adapt and direct a range of outdoor performances and community productions.  Bev also creates bespoke arts based community consultations, delivers masterclasses, training courses and is a guest lecturer.

 

Bev has over 25 years experience of running an arts organisation as a social enterprise and setting up and running an arts charity. Bev is a board member of ISAN (Independent Street Arts Network) and founder member of EFETSA (European Federation of Education and Training in Street Arts). You can find Bev's blog here: https://bevadams.wordpress.com/ or on twitter @facelesscompany

Anita O'Donovan
Marketing, Communications,
PR Manager
BSc Hons International Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey

Anita works one day a week to helps us  to promote and raise the profile of our work to clients, communities and the media across the UK and abroad.  

She joined us in 2015 having worked as Marketing Manager for Eureka! The National Children's Museum, JORVIK Viking Centre, Thackray Museum and Harewood House.   

Jackie Woodhead
Freelance Management Accountant
Jackie Woodhead
Freelance Management Accountant

Jackie manages Faceless Arts' finances and payroll.

She came to us in 2004 as a volunteer and after continuing her training in accountancy, she has now set up her own business and works freelance for us on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Tony Wade
Creative Director
BA Hons Fine Art, Bretton Hall

In 1996, after training as a painter, spending 10 years building fire sculptures, touring as a street performer, musician and running a free outdoor music festival, Tony joined Faceless Arts.

 

As Creative Director for Faceless Arts, Tony designs and creates beautiful community engaged visual arts installations, exhibitions, workshops and parades as well as making sets and props for all our outdoor arts projects and providing technical support for the company's wide ranging repertoire of work. You can find Tony's blog here or on twitter @tonyfaceless.

Charlie Wells
Creative Producer: Community Engagement
BA Hons Performing Arts (Music), Middlesex University

A musician by trade, specialising in early years and voice, Charlie has been producing Faceless Arts' community engagement programme since 2006, delivering on music, early years and heritage projects for which she has trained with the Oral History Society.  

 

Previously, Charlie has worked at the National Theatre Studio, Gymboree, IMPRO integrated music projects, Yorkshire Dance and as a facilitator with Full Body and the Voice Theatre Company for learning disabled actors. Charlie continues to freelance as a musician and singing teacher. You can find her on twitter @charliewells80.

Sue Barnes
General Manager
BA Hons English & Education,
University of York

Sue joined us in July 2016, working 1 day a week as our General Manager, taking care of day to day operations and helping to raise funds so that we can continue to deliver our work with communities less well served.

Previously Sue worked for 12 years as Director of Skippko, prior to which she worked as an Equal Fund Support Worker for Voluntary Action Leeds, a Grants Officer for Big Lottery Fund and a Community Accountancy Worker for Voluntary Action Sheffield

Board of Trustees

Julie Connolly (Chair) Erin Braithwaite (Vice Chair), Stephen Foster, Robin Owen-Morley (Finance)

Faceless Arts would like to acknowledge the work of Rik Stack (Associate Director and founder member 1990 to 2004) as key contributor to many of the company’s street performance, community arts and event management projects during this time.

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