Meet the artists helping us to shape the process

Let Artists Be Artists is an experiment that we believed could only be shaped by the involvement of artists in our recruitment process. Each stage of the experiment needed to be executed in collaboration with these artists coming from diverse backgrounds.

Four fantastic artists are now working with us on developing and shaping the recruitment process. Read more about how they were selected in the notes from our initial Planning Day.

Ania Varez

Ania Varez is a Venezuelan interdisciplinary artist based in Bristol.

Their work changes all the time and moves across different mediums (from theatrical experiences to postcards, from interventions in the public space to poems, and many things in between) but it’s just an excuse to explore ways of co-forging a sense of kinship with different people.

They often address experiences of migration, queerness and grief. Ania believes that making art with people is one of the nicest ways of learning about being together, changing the world and sharing hope.

Conrad Murray

Conrad Murray is an actor, writer, director, rapper, beatboxer, singer and theatre maker. Based in Mitcham, South-West London, He is passionate about making work through hip hop and beatbox theatre. He uses his mixed Indian heritage to address issues such as race and heritage.

Darren Pritchard

A native Mancunian, Darren is a director, producer, choreographer, and vogue house mother. Darren has 20 years of experience in the fashion, theatre, television and performing arts industries. In addition to his leadership in the infamous House of Ghetto and pioneering efforts in Black Pride MCR, Darren is also the co-artistic director for the Manchester-based arts organisation Black Gold Arts.

Gemma Aldred

Based in Bournemouth, Gemma is a theatre maker, producer, writer and community artist with a specialism in arts and wellbeing practices. Gemma is a co-director of CoCreate, an arts and wellbeing CIC, is a member of the Lighthouse Poole supported writers collective Portal, and creates semi-autobiographical solo performance works for fringe spaces.