01229 825085
Art Gene, Bath Street, Barrow-in-Furness,
Cumbria, LA14 5TY England, UK
Directors and Staff
Top image from left to right: the Art Gene Extreme Views team 2019, Charlie MacKeith, Anna Litchfield, Eve Mulholland, Owen Griffiths, Maddi Nicholson, Susan Manson, Katie Anderson, Norman Wild, below Stuart Bastik
Photo credit: Art Gene, 2019
The Art Gene team is comprised of a small core staff, a board of trustees and a wealth of associates and partner organisations. This page details our board and staff.
Stuart Bastik and Maddi Nicholson – Directors
Stuart and Maddi evolve the vision behind Art Gene’s artistic direction. They establish, develop, design and deliver new projects in collaboration with our associates. They create artworks, develop concept designs and new projects. They define our research remit, company aims and objectives and oversee all aspects of the companies work and report to our board of trustees.
They inspire, establish and maintain new partnerships and initiatives, assemble and manage our associates-teams in projects’ delivery and development. As part of wider independent panels they help to select artists and architects who apply through open submission to undertake our residencies or to exhibit at Art Gene.
Alongside their freelance role with Art Gene they continue to develop individual artistic practices and collaborate with each other as Nicholson Bastik.
Follow the links to view some of their work.
Norman Wild – Company Secretary and Financial Manager
Norman currently works from Art Gene’s office two days a week. He is Art Gene’s Financial Manager, looks after our trustees, manages our projects finances, handles the contractual elements of tenancies, room hires and other aspects of our premises management and accounts.
Clinton Rimmer – Site Maintenance and Project Support Manager
Clinton is maintenance manager for our Nan Tait studios and gallery and Allotment Soup the Isle of Walney Community Growing Space. He assists with the practical upkeep of both sites and provides support to artists and others installing exhibitions, preparing spaces for events and assists with the practical elements in projects delivery.
Jo Reilly – Future Business Associate
Since 2021 Jo has worked with Art Gene as a Future Business Associate, on project evaluation and the development of the Extreme Views and Islands projects, funded by Coastal Communities Fund and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Her work involves business planning and fundraising most recently for a large scale ERDF and Cumbria LEP ‘Low Carbon Barrow’ partnership project working with Barrow Borough Council.
Rachael Barker – Art Gene Project Manager & Social Media Manager
Rachael works across Art Gene’s programme, and is involved with planning, delivering and promoting events. Rachael studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University before returning to her home town of Barrow In Furness. Rachael joined the Art Gene team in 2022.