From left: Dr Gemma Marmalade, Sonia Boué, Becky Beasley, Emalee Beddoes

From left: Dr Gemma Marmalade, Sonia Boué, Becky Beasley and Emalee Beddoes

Photo: DASH

Changing Faces

Disabled-led arts organisation welcomes new trustees to drive advocacy, innovation and visibility

Arts Professional
2 min read

DASH (Disability Arts in Shropshire) has appointed four new trustees with expertise spanning the cultural, arts and education sectors.

Curator of collections and engagement at Hereford Museums and Galleries, EMALEE BEDDOES works with artists and communities to explore and reinterpret historic collections, with a particular focus on folk art, humour in art and strengthening rural arts ecologies.

BECKY BEASLEY is a professor of fine art at Goldsmiths College, a visual artist and an advocate for autism understanding, having received an autism diagnosis in 2021.

As an artist, academic and cultural leader, Dr GEMMA MARMALADE’s practice champions inclusive, critical and experimental approaches in contemporary art, promoting the visibility and empowerment of disabled, deaf and neurodivergent artists.

Multiform artist and writer SONIA BOUÉ practices her work ‘neurodiver-gently’ and is known for her advocacy work, innovative research-led projects and publications.

Beasley said, “Since my own late autism diagnosis five years ago, I have been supported by, and closely followed the work of DASH and its evolution under recent leadership.

“DASH is special. It sees and feels what is needed to empower the most vulnerable and create equality of opportunity.”

Marmalade added, “I chose to join the board of DASH because I believe fiercely in the necessity of amplifying the voices of disabled, deaf and neurodivergent artists within the cultural landscape.

“At this moment of global social and political uncertainty, I see the board as a vital platform to drive advocacy, innovation, and visibility for those whose perspectives are too often excluded.”

HEATHER PEAK, CEO and artistic director said she was “thrilled” to welcome the appointees, adding that each brings “extraordinary creativity, insight and lived experience” that will help shape the organisation’s next chapter.

“With these inspiring new trustees, we strengthen our commitment to building a future where artists, audiences, arts workers and organisations work together to create a vibrant, equitable and inclusive arts ecology.”