Craig Tyrie, Digital & Communities Lead
Craig writes the majority of content for the Digital Sentinel, the local news website for Wester Hailes, keeping up to date with community news and finding out what’s on in the local area. He runs weekly IT drop-ins, here at WHALE or at Clovenstone Community Centre. He is always on the lookout for local people who are interested in becoming volunteer community reporters and writing their own stories and content for the website.
Dawn Borthwick, Support Worker & Cleaner
Dawn supports a variety of our adult and young people’s groups. She also makes sure the building is clean and tidy.
Fabien Merville, Front of House Support
Fabien is the first point of contact for visitors and tenants, on the phone or in person. You can contact him if you need to book a room or have an enquiry about WHALE Arts activities. He supports with the distribution of marketing and social media materials additionally.
Kate Griffin, Creative Programme Manager
Kate manages WHALE Arts’ programme of arts activities for families, children and young people, including creative and strategic development, programming and working with partner organisations and artists to create exciting and engaging arts projects. She is responsible for the following groups: Creative Adventures, LYT: Discover, and Eco smARTies, as well as the holiday programme and WHALE’s exhibition programme.
Kirsty Frankland, Art & Wellbeing Manager
Kirsty runs our Arts and Wellbeing programme including WHALE Arts core Adults groups including: SmartCraft; Let’s Create; Stitch N Time; Men’s Makers; Let’s Dance and more. She manages a team of freelance artists who facilitate these groups and works with partner organisations to deliver a wider range of creative projects at WHALE. Kirsty is also involved with developing progression routes through WHALE Arts with our newest project Grow Your Own Artist.
Laura Delahunt, Operations & Communications Coordinator
Laura coordinates day-to-day facilities and ensures good Health and Safety practices within the building, as well as improving the service offered to our tenants and room bookings. She creates and distributes print and digital marketing materials and leads on improving our database system.
Leah Black, Chief Executive
Leah is responsible for WHALE Arts’ strategic and operational development. She oversees all aspects of WHALE’s programming, building, staff, finances, and ensures the organisation achieves its objectives.
Michael Bowdidge, Creative Placemaking Project Lead & Street Arts Coordinator
Michael works with local residents in Wester Hailes to develop and deliver a programme of regular creative activities, one-off events, and participatory public art installations that respond to local assets and aspirations.
Michael is also responsible for managing the Street Arts team, programming exciting and innovative creative activities with partner artists, and engaging with young people as part of our award winning Street Arts project.
Rebecca Green, Creative Placemaking Project Lead
Rebecca works with local residents in Wester Hailes to develop and deliver a programme of regular creative activities, one-off events, and participatory public art installations that respond to local assets and aspirations.
