Young People in the Arts announce new leadership team and launch 2021/22 season

Tessa Deterding (Director of Finance), Alice Godfrey (Director of Partnerships), Grace Green (Director of Strategy & Communications), Angharad Muir-Davies (Director of Regional Development & Marketing), Shannon St. Luce (Director of Planning)

Young People in the Arts - the network for arts professionals at the outset of their careers - has announced its new leadership team. The team includes Tessa Deterding as Director of Finance (Campaigns Manager, Riot Communications), Alice Godfrey as Director of Partnerships (Events Manager, London Symphony Orchestra), Grace Green as Director of Strategy & Communications (Development Manager, Three Choirs Festival), Angharad Muir-Davies as Director of Regional Development & Marketing (Business Support Officer, Churches Conservation Trust) and Shannon St. Luce as Director of Planning (Assistant Orchestra Manager, English National Opera). YPIA’s current Directors - Yasmin Hemmings, Rebecca Johns, Kate Jones and Esther Poole - will step down in December 2021 following a handover period with the new team.

Grace Green, incoming Director of Strategy & Communications, said: “Myself and my fellow YPIA Director designates are absolutely delighted to be taking up this exciting position from 2022. We have all benefited hugely from what YPIA offers early-career arts professionals. Our hope is that we can continue to build on the legacy of the incumbent directors, whilst seeking to pursue our vision that every early-career arts professional has the practical support they need to thrive in the arts & culture sector. We whole-heartedly believe that YPIA exists to inspire, connect, and support young people in the arts, in order to build a more successful, sustainable and resilient sector. We are incredibly excited by the prospect of what can be achieved by such an organisation, and throughout our directorship we will continually seek to deliver as much value as possible to our members, particularly in such challenging times for all. We have an incredibly strong team of volunteers moving into the 2021/22 season, and we look forward to sharing our plans in the coming months.”

Rebecca Johns, current Director of Communications, said: “We’re thrilled to be announcing our successors who have shown passion and ambition throughout their time on the committee. I, alongside the other current Directors, are looking forward to passing the baton on to a fantastic group of talented young leaders who will no doubt take YPIA from strength to strength.”

YPIA has also just completed recruitment for the 2021/22 committee which includes young professionals working all across the arts industry, including organisations such as Art UK, British Museum, Arcola Theatre, Philharmonia, Bertha DocHouse, Donmar Warehouse, Glasgow Museums and more. The YPIA 20/21 season will see a return to in-person networking events, beginning with Season Launch drinks at The Fidelio Cafe on 30 September as well as discussions focusing on accessibility in the arts and how to manage a career sidestep.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Johns rebeccaj@ypia.co.uk and Grace Green grace@ypia.co.uk

www.ypia.co.uk

Twitter: @YPIA_uk
Instagram: @YoungPeopleInTheArts
LinkedIn: Young People in Arts YPIA
Facebook: Young People In The Arts
Podcasts available on anchor.fm and all major platforms

Since its foundation in 2008, YPIA has run over 130 events with more than 200 speakers from the cultural and creative sectors, including Sir Nicholas Serota, Jude Kelly, Magdalen Fisher, Darren Henley and Sir Peter Bazalgette. The organisation's engagement programme has given almost 5,000 young people the chance to hear from the sector’s top leaders, and share ideas and insights with their peers to make change in the arts world.