Douglas Hunter, Chief Executive
Formerly an award-winning painter Douglas has been with Equal Arts for 18 years. He enjoys combining grass roots activities alongside long-term strategies to provide creative opportunities to older people.
Kate Parkin, Creative Age Programme Manager
Kate Parkin is the Creative Age Programme Manager. She supports the delivery of inclusive and dementia-friendly creative practice and training across cultural venues and health settings.
Kate has worked in the field of arts and health and participatory arts for the last 20 years previously working as Engagement and Audiences Relationship Manager for Arts Council England (North Area) and for community based organisations including Free Form Arts Trust and Hoxton Hall Arts Centre in London.
Outside of work Kate is a board member of Wunderbar, a producing and live art company in Newcastle, and enjoys indoor and open water swimming in lakes and reservoirs (when not bitterly freezing).
Jos Forester-Melville, HenPower Programme Manager
Jos has worked with Equal Arts for nearly 20 years after knocking on the door when she graduated from Northumbria University's Community Arts Degree.
Initially writing plays and making films about older people's memories, Jos took up the role of HenPower Programme Manager in 2012 and now has more photos of older people with chickens and art work than her own children!
Kerry Wood, Communications Lead
Having worked as a journalist for 10 years, Kerry returned to Public Relations and Communications supporting organisations to raise their public profile, widen their reach and share their stories.
In her younger years Kerry played women’s rugby, fleetingly.
Susan Ratliffe, Creative group support, Newcastle and Gateshead
Susan provides regular support and assistant to those participating in our weekly groups ensuring they have access to creative opportunities. The group workshops at cultural venues across the area are led by the interest of those attending.
Lindsey Grieves, HenPower Associate - South Tyneside
Lindsey teaches art, pottery and craft workshops for adults and children alongside providing meditation and mindfulness training for various organisations and groups. She works at a number of care settings in Gateshead and South Tyneside delivering HenPower.
Hannah Wood, HenPower Associate - London
Since graduating in dance and performance, Hannah has been exploring Asia. Her work with Equal Arts sees her deliver creative sessions with a focus on movement, story-telling and music.
