The Culture Company

"The Culture Company is one of England's most innovative commissioning agencies" - Adrian Friedli, Director Visual Arts and Literature, Arts Council England

The Culture Company is an independent cultural agency, commissioning and producing new projects. It is our aim to make life (particularly the places and spaces we all share) more wondrous and interesting while looking for the right opportunities, partnerships and financial means, to turn those ideas into a reality. Our projects are one-off, bespoke responses to the events, places and spaces we work with. High profile public and private sector partnerships include Opera North, Channel 4, Harewood Trust, Yorkshire Forward, the BBC, Screen Yorkshire, Orange and Leeds City Council.

We have a pretty broad approach to what a 'Culture Company' project is, so while our bedrock might sit in the visual arts, we are very interested in the integration of 'emerging technologies' and what is still called 'new media' - (most digital stuff) into projects – so light, sound, video, interactivity all rear their fabulous heads in the majority of our commissions and projects. Similarly we have a broad approach to what a cultural project is, so as well as artists and designers, we are happy to include opera and singing, cooking and growing, architecture and building, reading and writing if that is what is required. If it surprises or intrigues you, makes you want to find out more, look and think again, then that's fine by us.

Since we began in 1998 (as PhotoArts 2000) we have delivered over 370 projects, developed 248 permanent and temporary public art works and enabled 172 new commissions. The Culture Company is a Regularly Funded Organisation of Arts Council England, is a not-for-profit company and a registered charity.

‘Innovation is a contact sport that requires a rich mixing and mingling of people, information, ideas and collaborative processes’  Eric Von Hippel

As well as working on commissions with clients, we are committed to researching and developing our own projects. This enables us to work with creative practitioners whose work is particularly boundary pushing and pioneering, forge new partnership relationships with organisations and potential collaborators, seek out interesting locations, develop new opportunities and create the future.

Culture is changing rapidly, the boundaries between art, design, culture and media are closer together than ever before and new forms are emerging. Our vision is a society which sees no particular merit in the division between the serious world of `work` and the world of creative activity and experience. In a changing and challenging world we need new approaches to animate places, spaces and opportunities. All of us need to be refreshed and inspired; there are times when we all need more than the everyday.

Who We Are

This is the home of The Culture Company…we like to call it our Lower Ground Loft apartment because it feels and looks like something you might find in down town New York (or so we like to think) but in fact can be found downstairs at the back of the building in down town central Leeds. Obviously just as groovy as anything NY City can muster and yet, unlike NYC, marvelously handy for Leeds Train Station and all points north, south, east and west.

The Culture Company’s Director is Nicola Stephenson. Over the last 18 years, she has researched and developed many artists’ projects, particularly those engaging with the physical and cultural demands of architectural space, public environments and audiences. She is committed to demonstrating the social, cultural and commercial value of the arts and creativity and acts as the artistic and executive director of the company.
Our other key member of staff is Nigel Fischer, leading on the latest productions coming out of our Melt family; Art-Melt and Mini-Melt. Currently in the very early stages, both will provide a programme of inspiration events, workshops and development awards to help young people (Mini-Melt) and the Arts sector (Arty Melt) take advantage of new media funding opportunities like 4ip and to highlight to the interactive & new-media sector the advantages of partnership with artists and arts organisations.

We also work with a range of trusted associates and companies to build the best team for the projects we do. We have a reputation for delivering ambitious projects creatively and with excellent results and an exemplary record for pulling in the maximum resources to yield results that often exceed expectations. Everyone who works with us is excited by what happens when you bring creative people, ideas, commissioners and audiences together. We like to challenge ourselves and our clients and partners to go the extra mile. It doesn't matter to us if it's a small or big project.

Board of Trustees

We are lucky to have an extremely well respected Board of Trustees who offer invaluable insight and guidance and share our journey. They are:

Timandra Gustafson (Chair) was until recently Director of Axis, the national online resource for contemporary art, before setting up her own company, Cultural Consulting. Her previous posts include Head of Visual Arts, Arts Council England, North East. She is committed to supporting artists and specialises in working with organisations that promote artists’ work and brings an absolute wealth of experience and wisdom to our meetings.

Richard Watts is the longest serving member on our Board. Amazingly connected, his change management company People Make it work have clients who range from Arts Council England, to Deutsche Post and Teach First. He has recently founded a charity, The Everyone Foundation, and we just love his energy, positivity and sense of fun.

Professor Chris Bailey is Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Society of Leeds Metropolitan University. Bringing thirty years experience of practical engagement with the cultural sector, his research interests lie in cultural policy and history, culture and regeneration and in culture's role in regional development. He has also published research on the impact of digital technologies on education and audiences.

Hannah Mason is Director of Communications for the Housing Diversity Network, has a background in design and music, and set up a Carnival Arts Network for the Arts Council. She has just helped us write our comprehensive Equality Action plan.

Michelle Normington is Sponsorship Consultant for the Yorkshire Bank with particular responsibility for brand materials and building long-term community partnerships within sponsorships. She has been a fantastic sounding board for the development of our new website and marketing materials.

Dr Rachael Unsworth is an expert on urban environments and processes of change, particularly in the integration of social, economic and environmental issues, including climate change and resource constraints; citizen participation in urban change and the development of sustainable communities urban design and place making. She is very supportive of our projects which address creative approaches to greening the city such as Wonderwood (see New Projects).

Yvonne Deane is CEO of Deane Associates: Yvonne Deane established Deane Associates in 1996 to provide a wide range of business development services to the arts, media and community sectors. She has a legendary reputation for rigorous research and meticulous project planning together with a flexible and client centred approach. Her insightful scrutiny keeps us on our toes in the best possible way.

People we've worked with

We've worked with a huge range of clients from the public and the private sector. Sometimes we respond to tenders and briefs from clients and sometimes we take our own project ideas and present them to potential clients. The Culture Company strongly believes in working across sectors and will often act as the catalyst to the development of extremely interesting and innovative partnerships. We are well connected and always bring the best team and the most appropriate partners to the table.

“The Culture Company thinks collaboratively and works with passion. On the series of projects we have made together the Culture Company has always supported Opera North's aims sensitively, and with great understanding. At the same time they have encouraged us into new adventures and innovations, through which we have together created a unique and groundbreaking body of original work.” Dominic Gray, Director of Opera North Projects

If you would like to stay updated on future Culture Company projects, and receive invitations to exhibition openings and private views, then please leave us your name and email address.