Chris Butler : Director
Chris Butler has qualified teacher status and in depth knowledge of teaching in a variety of contexts from primary school to higher education, to Masters Level She has undergraduate and post graduate degrees and qualifications in Dance and Drama, Expressive Arts, and Arts Management. Prior to her entry into the University of Chichester in 1985 she was a Dance Advisor for West Glamorgan Education Authority, on the board of the Dance Committee of the Welsh Arts Council, and on the executive committee of the Welsh Council of Dance Research, Education and Training.
Her original training was in dance and drama, with more advanced training in contemporary dance, at the London School of Contemporary Dance and the Laban Centre for Dance. She has performed and choreographed in the professional theatre, and has directed a number of youth arts drama and dance productions nationally and internationally
At Chichester University, Chris was the Head of Related Arts and also Performing Arts and from 1997 the Head of the School of Visual and Performing Arts and a member of the senior Management team. This involved the management of 400 staff and 6000 students. She retired from that position in 2008 and taught part time on the Musical Theatre course at the University.
From 1997-2000 Chris was a recipient of a European Arts award for an arts and new technologies project from the European League of the Institute of the Arts (ELIA), and was on the International working party for the ELIA project Employability Skills for Arts Graduates. From 2000-2008 she was the Artistic Director of the ShowRoom Theatre. She has directed a number of International arts project to include ‘Split Screen ’and 'Machines and Migratory Bodies', with Johannes Birringer, both funded by ELIA, and the Arts Council. She has taken an active role on a number of professional organisations and recent board representation has been on South West West Sussex Arts Group, Unity Arts Trust, and Chichester City of Culture Steering Group. In 2009 she was commissioned by the Arts Council to write an Arts Cultural Strategy for the University. In 2011 she was awarded the Observer Business Award as part of the writing team for the Chichester bid for the UK City of Culture in 2013, a scheme run by the government Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). She has been a school and college governor and a consultant to many arts organisations Through her consultancy she has raised over 300k from a variety of private and public funding bodies for a range of large scale and community arts projects. She is currently retired, and the Director of Arts Dream Selsey and a Trustee of Selsey Community Forum and on the management team of The Selsey Festival
Chris Butler has qualified teacher status and in depth knowledge of teaching in a variety of contexts from primary school to higher education, to Masters Level She has undergraduate and post graduate degrees and qualifications in Dance and Drama, Expressive Arts, and Arts Management. Prior to her entry into the University of Chichester in 1985 she was a Dance Advisor for West Glamorgan Education Authority, on the board of the Dance Committee of the Welsh Arts Council, and on the executive committee of the Welsh Council of Dance Research, Education and Training.
Her original training was in dance and drama, with more advanced training in contemporary dance, at the London School of Contemporary Dance and the Laban Centre for Dance. She has performed and choreographed in the professional theatre, and has directed a number of youth arts drama and dance productions nationally and internationally
At Chichester University, Chris was the Head of Related Arts and also Performing Arts and from 1997 the Head of the School of Visual and Performing Arts and a member of the senior Management team. This involved the management of 400 staff and 6000 students. She retired from that position in 2008 and taught part time on the Musical Theatre course at the University.
From 1997-2000 Chris was a recipient of a European Arts award for an arts and new technologies project from the European League of the Institute of the Arts (ELIA), and was on the International working party for the ELIA project Employability Skills for Arts Graduates. From 2000-2008 she was the Artistic Director of the ShowRoom Theatre. She has directed a number of International arts project to include ‘Split Screen ’and 'Machines and Migratory Bodies', with Johannes Birringer, both funded by ELIA, and the Arts Council. She has taken an active role on a number of professional organisations and recent board representation has been on South West West Sussex Arts Group, Unity Arts Trust, and Chichester City of Culture Steering Group. In 2009 she was commissioned by the Arts Council to write an Arts Cultural Strategy for the University. In 2011 she was awarded the Observer Business Award as part of the writing team for the Chichester bid for the UK City of Culture in 2013, a scheme run by the government Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). She has been a school and college governor and a consultant to many arts organisations Through her consultancy she has raised over 300k from a variety of private and public funding bodies for a range of large scale and community arts projects. She is currently retired, and the Director of Arts Dream Selsey and a Trustee of Selsey Community Forum and on the management team of The Selsey Festival
Gillian Plowman : Playwright:
Gillian won the Verity Bargate award in 1988 with Me and My Friend, a poignantly funny play about the release of four patients from a psychiatric hospital into the community. It was first produced at the Soho Poly Theatre in 1990 and at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 1992, directed by Ian Rickson.
Other plays include The Purity Game, which formed part of the opening season of Chichester`s Minerva Theatre Studio in 1989. Storm was produced at London’s Soho theatre, Moments of Glory at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, Another Fine Mess at the King’s Head, Islington, The Ox and the Ass at Theatre 503, Battersea, Padlocked at the Etcetera, Camden, Destinies at the Red Lion Theatre, Islington and Imagine Imogen at The London New Play Festival. Crooked Wood was produced at the Jermyn Street Theatre, London, in September 2008
Radio plays for the BBC include The Wooden Pear starring Anna Massey, Philip and Rowena with Leslie Phillips and Renee Asherson, A Sea Change with Jenny Funnell and David's Birthday with Amanda Root and Clare Holman. A trilogy of African plays, Loveness and Me, Gracey and Me and Boniface and Me was recently broadcast on Radio 4, featuring Harriet Walter. A film script Daisyworld was commissioned by Paramount Pictures
Gillian formed her own production company, Gillian Plowman Productions, to produce Yours Abundantly from Zimbabwe, directed by Annie Castledine at the Oval House Theatre, London, during Black History Month, October 2008. The script appears in a new book, Plays for Today by Women, edited by Cheryl Robson, 2013.
As well as Me and My Friend, published plays by Samuel French include Beata Beatrix, Cecily, Close to Croydon, David`s Birthday, The Janna Years, A Kind of Vesuvius, Philip and Rowena, Two Summers, Umjana Land, There’s None So Blind, Tippers, Two Fat Men, Touching Tomorrow, The Allotment and The Window Cleaner, all of which have featured in drama festivals world wide.
From 1986 to 2003, Gillian was the general manager of St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Chichester, a sanctuary, built by the community and serving the community. She is the treasurer of Arts Dream an is a Trustee of the Pavilion Trust
Gillian won the Verity Bargate award in 1988 with Me and My Friend, a poignantly funny play about the release of four patients from a psychiatric hospital into the community. It was first produced at the Soho Poly Theatre in 1990 and at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 1992, directed by Ian Rickson.
Other plays include The Purity Game, which formed part of the opening season of Chichester`s Minerva Theatre Studio in 1989. Storm was produced at London’s Soho theatre, Moments of Glory at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, Another Fine Mess at the King’s Head, Islington, The Ox and the Ass at Theatre 503, Battersea, Padlocked at the Etcetera, Camden, Destinies at the Red Lion Theatre, Islington and Imagine Imogen at The London New Play Festival. Crooked Wood was produced at the Jermyn Street Theatre, London, in September 2008
Radio plays for the BBC include The Wooden Pear starring Anna Massey, Philip and Rowena with Leslie Phillips and Renee Asherson, A Sea Change with Jenny Funnell and David's Birthday with Amanda Root and Clare Holman. A trilogy of African plays, Loveness and Me, Gracey and Me and Boniface and Me was recently broadcast on Radio 4, featuring Harriet Walter. A film script Daisyworld was commissioned by Paramount Pictures
Gillian formed her own production company, Gillian Plowman Productions, to produce Yours Abundantly from Zimbabwe, directed by Annie Castledine at the Oval House Theatre, London, during Black History Month, October 2008. The script appears in a new book, Plays for Today by Women, edited by Cheryl Robson, 2013.
As well as Me and My Friend, published plays by Samuel French include Beata Beatrix, Cecily, Close to Croydon, David`s Birthday, The Janna Years, A Kind of Vesuvius, Philip and Rowena, Two Summers, Umjana Land, There’s None So Blind, Tippers, Two Fat Men, Touching Tomorrow, The Allotment and The Window Cleaner, all of which have featured in drama festivals world wide.
From 1986 to 2003, Gillian was the general manager of St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Chichester, a sanctuary, built by the community and serving the community. She is the treasurer of Arts Dream an is a Trustee of the Pavilion Trust
Mike Nicholls:
Academic Qualifications: BD, Mth, MPhil, PD. These degrees in theology and history have taught me the value of rigorous thought and careful research.
Voluntary Sector Experience. In the last four years since retirement I have served as:
In these ongoing roles I have succeeded in numerous applications raising in excess of £750.000 and managed the resulting projects.
Work Experience. In my working life I started in banking, served two churches as an ordained minister, spent fifteen years in higher education and latterly worked in projects among older people and dementia sufferers.
Life Interests: I enjoy family, reading, drama, storytelling, sport, walking and sharing life with many great volunteers in my community.
Academic Qualifications: BD, Mth, MPhil, PD. These degrees in theology and history have taught me the value of rigorous thought and careful research.
Voluntary Sector Experience. In the last four years since retirement I have served as:
- Project Manager for Sports Dream
- Chair of Youth Dream
- Committee Member Arts Dream Selsey
- Convenor Selsey Community Forum, Arts Forum and Youth Forum
- Secretary Selsey Business Partnership
- Founder Selsey U3A
- Schools Liaison Officer Selsey Seals Football Club
- Charter Standard Officer Selsey Football Club
- Club Development Manager Selsey Cricket Club
- Manager Selsey Information Exchange
- Leader Community Research group on names on our local war memorial
- Chair of Selsey Community forum
In these ongoing roles I have succeeded in numerous applications raising in excess of £750.000 and managed the resulting projects.
Work Experience. In my working life I started in banking, served two churches as an ordained minister, spent fifteen years in higher education and latterly worked in projects among older people and dementia sufferers.
Life Interests: I enjoy family, reading, drama, storytelling, sport, walking and sharing life with many great volunteers in my community.
Belinda Gannon:
Community Musician and workshop facilitator
Belinda has always had a passion for music making for all – despite having no actual formal music qualifications, she has always enjoyed listening to and making music, she began her musical career way back, running a folk group throughout her teen years. She is a keen singer, self-‐taught guitarist and ukulele player and a rusty pianist!
Several years later, a career in publishing and journalism, getting married and having two (now very grown-‐up children), she reignited her love of music when she started up her own extremely successful business running early years music groups in her previous hometown of Kingston-‐upon-‐Thames alongside supporting children with speech and language difficulties in two local schools.
Belinda was then approached to become the early years music consultant for Hammersmith & Fulham, providing training for staff across over twenty schools in the Borough and also running music sessions in several of the schools. Fifteen years of music making with the under-‐fives was an amazing job but lead Belinda into wanting more – which is why just over two years ago she became a mature student at Goldsmith’s University, London to study for the highly recognized and renowned, Community Music Workshop skills certificate which she passed with flying colours at the end of summer 2014. Over this time Belinda also qualified as a Lifemusic practitioner, this non-‐judgemental, inclusive method of creative music making can be used with a wide variety of community groups and its ‘everybody is musical’ belief fits firmly with her own.
Belinda and her husband decided to move down to Selsey full time just over three years ago whilst she completed the course, and this summer designed and ran a four week pilot ‘music for health’ project, Resonate, in partnership with the local medical centre and The Selsey Community Watch forum. Evaluations of the project were extremely positive and it is hoped that she can bring her enthusiasm and knowledge of group music making to Selsey to provide a variety of ‘musical’ programmes to all residents, including singing for better breathing (having attended training at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London), music making for the non-‐musical, ‘forget me not’ singing and music groups for those suffering with dementia (and their families/carers) and to be involved or assist with any other ideas surrounding community music.
Belinda is currently running the Selsey Sing Community Choir on Wednesday evenings at the Town Hall.
She can be contacted via email at belindagannon.musicforall@gmail.com
Community Musician and workshop facilitator
Belinda has always had a passion for music making for all – despite having no actual formal music qualifications, she has always enjoyed listening to and making music, she began her musical career way back, running a folk group throughout her teen years. She is a keen singer, self-‐taught guitarist and ukulele player and a rusty pianist!
Several years later, a career in publishing and journalism, getting married and having two (now very grown-‐up children), she reignited her love of music when she started up her own extremely successful business running early years music groups in her previous hometown of Kingston-‐upon-‐Thames alongside supporting children with speech and language difficulties in two local schools.
Belinda was then approached to become the early years music consultant for Hammersmith & Fulham, providing training for staff across over twenty schools in the Borough and also running music sessions in several of the schools. Fifteen years of music making with the under-‐fives was an amazing job but lead Belinda into wanting more – which is why just over two years ago she became a mature student at Goldsmith’s University, London to study for the highly recognized and renowned, Community Music Workshop skills certificate which she passed with flying colours at the end of summer 2014. Over this time Belinda also qualified as a Lifemusic practitioner, this non-‐judgemental, inclusive method of creative music making can be used with a wide variety of community groups and its ‘everybody is musical’ belief fits firmly with her own.
Belinda and her husband decided to move down to Selsey full time just over three years ago whilst she completed the course, and this summer designed and ran a four week pilot ‘music for health’ project, Resonate, in partnership with the local medical centre and The Selsey Community Watch forum. Evaluations of the project were extremely positive and it is hoped that she can bring her enthusiasm and knowledge of group music making to Selsey to provide a variety of ‘musical’ programmes to all residents, including singing for better breathing (having attended training at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London), music making for the non-‐musical, ‘forget me not’ singing and music groups for those suffering with dementia (and their families/carers) and to be involved or assist with any other ideas surrounding community music.
Belinda is currently running the Selsey Sing Community Choir on Wednesday evenings at the Town Hall.
She can be contacted via email at belindagannon.musicforall@gmail.com
Sue Graves:
Sue has worked as a Personal Assistant at BBC Television and then as a Research Assistant for an International Research and Development company responsible for carrying out World Bank projects in Third World Countries.
For the past 20 years Sue has worked for the British Contract Furnishing & Design Association, using her knowledge and acumen to encourage and assist UK companies to enter overseas markets.
Sue has participated in United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) Scoping Missions to investigate new markets the Middle East and has organised and led successful Trade Missions to Russia and India. Sue is currently responsible for organising and managing UK groups with UKTI grant funding at selected International Interiors & Design exhibitions worldwide.
Sue has always had a deep passion for Creative Arts and has been actively involved in participating in, directing and producing community productions both in London and, following a move to Selsey in 2000, in West Sussex. Sue was part of a steering group which set up the Selsey Festival in 2002 with the aim of putting the immense talent and skills of the local community on the map. Sue has been the Fundraiser and Co-ordinator of this very successful Festival for the past 11 years, facilitating the 70 events running in and around Selsey during the month of August.
Sue set up the very successful Cloud Nine Children’s Musical Theatre Group in Selsey in 2002 which has encouraged the youth of Selsey to become involved in Drama and Musical Theatre. As well as committee membership of Arts Dream, she is currently a trustee of Youth Dream and is directing the latest Selsey Amateur Dramatic production of Calamity Jane. Sue is also the chair of the newly formed Selsey Festival
Sue has worked as a Personal Assistant at BBC Television and then as a Research Assistant for an International Research and Development company responsible for carrying out World Bank projects in Third World Countries.
For the past 20 years Sue has worked for the British Contract Furnishing & Design Association, using her knowledge and acumen to encourage and assist UK companies to enter overseas markets.
Sue has participated in United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) Scoping Missions to investigate new markets the Middle East and has organised and led successful Trade Missions to Russia and India. Sue is currently responsible for organising and managing UK groups with UKTI grant funding at selected International Interiors & Design exhibitions worldwide.
Sue has always had a deep passion for Creative Arts and has been actively involved in participating in, directing and producing community productions both in London and, following a move to Selsey in 2000, in West Sussex. Sue was part of a steering group which set up the Selsey Festival in 2002 with the aim of putting the immense talent and skills of the local community on the map. Sue has been the Fundraiser and Co-ordinator of this very successful Festival for the past 11 years, facilitating the 70 events running in and around Selsey during the month of August.
Sue set up the very successful Cloud Nine Children’s Musical Theatre Group in Selsey in 2002 which has encouraged the youth of Selsey to become involved in Drama and Musical Theatre. As well as committee membership of Arts Dream, she is currently a trustee of Youth Dream and is directing the latest Selsey Amateur Dramatic production of Calamity Jane. Sue is also the chair of the newly formed Selsey Festival
John Dickerson:
iam a retired sales manager who moved to Selsey ten years ago.My main interests are music and art. I sing in the Selsey Community Choir and work as a volunteer in the Cardiac Rehab Department of ST Richard's hospital. I also help to run the Seal Primary Academy Gardening Club in Selsey
iam a retired sales manager who moved to Selsey ten years ago.My main interests are music and art. I sing in the Selsey Community Choir and work as a volunteer in the Cardiac Rehab Department of ST Richard's hospital. I also help to run the Seal Primary Academy Gardening Club in Selsey
KAREN PIRKS :
I am the Partnership Officer within the Learning and Development Teams for West Sussex County Council. My role is to work closely with the voluntary and private sectors in adult and children's services. I am responsible to understand, define and forecast service requirements from a Learning and Development perspective. I work with services and partners to enable the development and design of appropriate learning solutions in order to develop workforce (paid or voluntary) skills and expertise.
My key aim is to establish what the requirements are, how we best provide the requirements, how we can collaborate to prevent duplication and what specific outcomes/benefits will arise from that learning.
Over the past 20 years I have worked in various settings as a Registered Manager for the Private and Charitable Sectors, Developing Services for young people with Autism, Learning Difficulties, and other complex health care needs.
In 2014 I joined WSCC as Assistant Manager in two Specialist Day Services, supporting adults with Dementia. Subsequently I worked closely with various Heath Care Professionals in a Resource Centre for older people who required interim, respite, and re-enablement care.
I have always worked in a person-centered way, and developed my teams to work in a similar way. I am a keen advocate of supporting community groups to enable people to access a variety of “therapeutic” services to enable them to engage, develop their interests and enjoy being with others. Music, art and theatre, are key opportunities for people to express themselves, and I am keen to support the groups with their aspirations to develop their own roles in the community.
As part of my role I have worked closely in Selsey to develop it as a Dementia Friendly Community and worked with the various groups in Selsey to become it’s own Selsey Dementia Action Alliance. These links have enabled me to develop partnerships between the local community groups and the larger voluntary groups and statutory organisations including NHS and WSCC. I see this as an appropriate model for future work across the County of West Sussex. I have also been able to identify key areas of development for our social care sector staff within WSCC and the private sector- and have secured a programme of clinical skills workshops for the forthcoming year to ensure staff feel able to support those they care for well.
As collaborative working is key to developing future care for our older adults, and vulnerable groups, supporting the voluntary sector in this way is paramount in providing sustainable and safe solutions. Especially as now there is more of a reliance to utilise the voluntary groups across the County.
Karen Pirks
Partnership Officer, West Sussex County Council
I am the Partnership Officer within the Learning and Development Teams for West Sussex County Council. My role is to work closely with the voluntary and private sectors in adult and children's services. I am responsible to understand, define and forecast service requirements from a Learning and Development perspective. I work with services and partners to enable the development and design of appropriate learning solutions in order to develop workforce (paid or voluntary) skills and expertise.
My key aim is to establish what the requirements are, how we best provide the requirements, how we can collaborate to prevent duplication and what specific outcomes/benefits will arise from that learning.
Over the past 20 years I have worked in various settings as a Registered Manager for the Private and Charitable Sectors, Developing Services for young people with Autism, Learning Difficulties, and other complex health care needs.
In 2014 I joined WSCC as Assistant Manager in two Specialist Day Services, supporting adults with Dementia. Subsequently I worked closely with various Heath Care Professionals in a Resource Centre for older people who required interim, respite, and re-enablement care.
I have always worked in a person-centered way, and developed my teams to work in a similar way. I am a keen advocate of supporting community groups to enable people to access a variety of “therapeutic” services to enable them to engage, develop their interests and enjoy being with others. Music, art and theatre, are key opportunities for people to express themselves, and I am keen to support the groups with their aspirations to develop their own roles in the community.
As part of my role I have worked closely in Selsey to develop it as a Dementia Friendly Community and worked with the various groups in Selsey to become it’s own Selsey Dementia Action Alliance. These links have enabled me to develop partnerships between the local community groups and the larger voluntary groups and statutory organisations including NHS and WSCC. I see this as an appropriate model for future work across the County of West Sussex. I have also been able to identify key areas of development for our social care sector staff within WSCC and the private sector- and have secured a programme of clinical skills workshops for the forthcoming year to ensure staff feel able to support those they care for well.
As collaborative working is key to developing future care for our older adults, and vulnerable groups, supporting the voluntary sector in this way is paramount in providing sustainable and safe solutions. Especially as now there is more of a reliance to utilise the voluntary groups across the County.
Karen Pirks
Partnership Officer, West Sussex County Council
