Take a walk through 30 years of East Street Arts. Explore the No Going Back exhibition and hear all the tales of project planning and delivery, highs and lows, first-hand from the co-founders. Karen Watson and Jon Wakeman will lead a discussion on how initiatives have informed the future creative direction of the organisation.
Speakers:
- Jon Wakeman, Co-Founder of East Street Arts
- Karen Watson, Co-Founder of East Street Arts
Speaker Bios
Karen Watson
Karen Watson is the co-founder of East Street Arts, a visual arts charity with local, national and international influence. Karen stepped down as Artistic Director in 2023, a role in which she led on the company’s vision, the delivery of artistic programme, strategic developments and partnerships.
Karen has written regularly for industry and national press which has informed artist-led programmes and cultural policy. Her work advocating for independent artists and organisations has had national influence, and her passion and belief in artist-led workings has enabled many ideas to turn into sustainable and independent organisations.
Karen was awarded an MBE by His Majesty The King in the New Year 2023 Honours List in recognition of her services to the arts.
Jon Wakeman
Jon Wakeman is the co-founder and artistic director of East Street Arts. The organisation, established in 1993, began with a shared vision of supporting artists, where provision within the visual art scene in Leeds was otherwise vacant. Over the 30 years, Jon has assumed almost every role, whilst nurturing the development of the organisation. The extent of his work has constantly expanded, much like East Street Arts.
Jon was awarded an MBE by His Majesty The King in the New Year 2023 Honours List in recognition of his services to the arts.
Other things!
-
Artists
I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit! by Silvia Liebig
Silvia Liebig's artist book I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit!: Being Beeston Projekt 2019-2023 is now available to buy.
-
Event
Reproductive Futures: Creative Workshop
Join artist Herfa Thompson and academic Zoe Tongue to explore your reproductive health experiences, responding to the duo's Reproductive Futures exhibition, in this visual art workshop.
-
News
Welcome to our new trustees
We’re thrilled to welcome two new trustees to our Board following a recent round of open recruitment.
-
News
Artist selected for Taipei artist residency
Leeds-based artist James Thompson has been selected for a sought-after six-week residency at Treasure Hill Artist Village in Taiwan, from August to September 2024.
-
Commission
Making Public Art - a new interview series
We worked with some wonderful artists throughout 2023 to bring large-scale mural pieces to various locations across Leeds. We’ve been catching up with the artists, in a new series that looks at working with communities, sustainability, and their working process in creating public art.
-
Artist support
No Going Back: exploring the archives
Here are some of our favourite images from last month's No Going Back exhibition, for anyone who may have missed it.