Castlefield Gallery announces Dean of Manchester School of Art Penny Macbeth, and Placemaking and Destination Marketing Consultant Fran Burgess, as the newest members of its Board of Trustees.

Castlefield Gallery is excited to announce that Dean of Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University, Penny Macbeth, and Placemaking and Destination Marketing Consultant, Fran Burgess, have joined its Board of Trustees.

Penny Macbeth leads Manchester School of Art, at Manchester Metropolitan University, and is also Deputy Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at the university. She has extensive networks and partnerships in Manchester and across the creative and education sectors nationally and internationally. Penny is a founding member of the Culture Forum North and sits on two citywide bodies: Culture Corridor Group and the St Johns network. She is also academic board nominee on Manchester Metropolitan University’s Board of Governors. Penny joined Manchester School of Art in 2011 as the Head of the department of Art, and Associate Dean for Student Experience. Before taking up her position at Manchester School of Art, she worked at the University of Huddersfield.

Specialising in the property and destination sector, Fran Burgess is a CIM qualified consultant with fifteen years’ experience of creating and executing communications, community engagement, placemaking and brand strategies. Fran is a member of the Placemaking Leadership Council and runs her own Placemaking and Destination Marketing Consultancy, Spaces Matter (spaces-matter.com).

Fran and Penny are joining existing Trustees includingManaging Director of Modern Designers, Susie Stubbs(Chair); Curator at Manchester Art Gallery, Kate Jesson (Co-Chair); artist and Senior Lecturer, Route Leader of MA Fine Art at Manchester School of Art, Ian Rawlinson; Principal Resource and Programmes Officer at Manchester City Council, Adrian Slatcher; Managing Partner of Stephenson STUDIO, Roger Stevenson OBE; artist Frances Disley; Knowledge Exchange Affiliate at the University of Salford and Chair of With One Voice, Beth Knowles; and consultant Michael Ariss.

“Penny and Fran join us at an exciting time for the gallery, as we head towards its 40th anniversary – four decades of championing creativity in arguably the UK’s most creative city,” said Susie Stubbs, Chair of Castlefield Gallery.“Having Penny and Fran form part of such a dynamic and well-connected board – one that supports creative talent and understands the value of creative endeavour – will ensure that Castlefield Gallery continues to play a central role in the creative life of Manchester and the UK. They bring with them expertise, enthusiasm and a willingness to work hard for the artists we support.”

Helen Wewiora, Director of Castlefield Gallery, said:“Established in 1984, Castlefield Gallery was a catalyst to a period of cultural growth in Manchester and the North that saw an influx of artistic talent from across the UK, as well as the birth of some of the cultural venues that remain at the heart of culture in the region today. Since then we have provided some of the first opportunities for artists in the North West to access formal, recognised exhibition opportunities, alternating and placing exhibitions by more established artists alongside those working at an earlier career stage. Our programming has illustrated the strength of these artists’ works regardless of art world status, and is a strategy we continue to stand by. Penny and Fran are extremely well positioned to contribute to Castlefield Gallery’s future, as we work towards marking 40 years in 2024.”