OUR TEAM

Collaborates closely with Vandna to provide consultancy services focused on advancing diversity within the sector, serving as a crucial bridge between artists and esteemed venues, festivals, organisations, and educational institutions, facilitating bookings and partnerships within the South West. Deasy is a mentor for our artists, nurturing their growth by honing industry skills, securing funding, and fostering valuable connections. With a strong commitment to the community, Deasy has also established the Bristol Refugee Festival and Imalya, and is currently in the process of founding an organisation in Cornwall dedicated to championing diverse artists.

Leads the charge in diversifying the sector through her proactive engagement efforts. She actively forges and strengthens connections with local communities, venues, organisations, and festivals to create opportunities for the Diverse Artists Network and to change representation within the sector. In 2024, Vandna will be moving to Artistic Director for Diaspora, the network’s annual city-wide festival. Her contributions extend to the founding of Vocalise, a significant community magazine in the heart of St Pauls, and she also holds the role of Community Engagement Officer for the Bristol Refugee Festival.

Dr. Roz’s career spans over three decades. Driven by a passion for inclusivity, she now pioneers cutting-edge approaches to evaluation across disciplines and art forms. Collaborating with renowned organisations such as Tate and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Dr. Roz continues to shape the landscape of cultural impact assessment. Her work is not only a testament to her expertise but also a beacon for a more inclusive and equitable arts community.

For two decades, Penny has been weaving together communities through her choreography and performances, co-founding the Charity Movema in 2009.  Her work transcends stages, bringing empowerment and a voice to underrepresented communities. Penny has an extensive background in theatre, education, and community arts, and uses the power of movement to forge connections and break down barriers.

Rosco spent years honing his legal expertise, but ultimately found his true calling in arts administration. Today, Rosco stands at the forefront of the environmental movement, leveraging the power of art to drive change. His belief in the transformative potential of creativity fuels his advocacy for environmental causes and as an EDI specialist.

After 30+ years in Bristol, Oneil has built a powerful community network, merging music composition with strategic, high-level collaborations. Known for visionary thinking, he excels in networking, problem-solving, and ambitious goal-setting. Driven by big dreams, he aims to be an Ultrapreneur, leaving a lasting entrepreneurial legacy through impactful projects.

Sachin, a Punjabi-British visual and dance artist in Bristol, explores joyful, authentic expression through movement. His project, Moving Ink, paints live dancers, drawing from Japanese Sumi-e ink’s fluidity. With a background in economics, he also works as a financial strategist, blending artistry and analysis for sustainable business strategies.

Bashart Malik is a Director, Cinematographer and DJ. He delivers high-quality creative outputs that amplify unheard voices and enhance engagement. Over 20 years producing
 music videos, features and commercials. His directing work challenges misinformation using cinematic storytelling. Watch his cinematography in cinema releases such as ‘Golden Years’ for Moli Films, Channels 4’s short form strand ‘Random Acts’ and an extensive range of music videos, TV commercials and features. Known for delivering immersive screening events and is developing a Bath based youth project, using innovative tech. 
Collaborating with artists for BBC’s New Creatives.  His 
DJ sets combine music from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

A driving force for creatives in the South West, Jazpa is a multi-disciplinary creative director, mentor, and artist producer known for paving the way for emerging talent. Whether performing, hosting events, or curating experiences at major venues and festivals—including Love Saves The Day, Glastonbury Festival, Forwards Festival, and Bristol Beacon—his impact is undeniable. Passionate about giving back to communities, Jazpa’s journey began through voluntary work, mentoring young people and helping them build confidence through music. His dedication and tenacity positioned him as a key figure in breaking down barriers for young creatives. He serves as a Director and Youth Guidance Mentor at ACE CIC, Operations Manager at BORN2BE Records, and Outreach Lead for Big Team CIC. Jazpa has a keen ear for new music and a commitment to championing diversity and inclusion. His diverse experience includes roles as a Musical Director for theatre, DJ, Workshop Facilitator, Radio Host, Creative Project Lead, and Community Board Member.

I am a passionate arts leader with over 20 years’ experience driving creative projects that centre diversity, inclusion and education. With a background in theatre and a specialism in arts management and cultural policy, I’ve delivered high-quality programmes that empower emerging artists, young people and underrepresented communities to thrive in the creative industries.

Throughout my career, I’ve led multi-disciplinary teams, built strong partnerships, produced large-scale creative events, and successfully managed everything from programme design to evaluation, fundraising, and touring. As a migrant artist from Latin-America and advocate for diverse voices, I am committed to expanding representation across the arts sector, bringing both lived experience and professional expertise to the table.

Currently, I am Creative Manager at Creative Youth Network, where I develop and deliver creative programmes that nurture hopefully the next generation of artists and cultural leaders in the Southwest region.

Yoma Smith is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in Marketing and

Communications. She has established herself as a consultant in the field and is the founder of Amino Consulting Ltd, a company dedicated to delivering essential marketing and communication services. Her expertise covers a spectrum of activities, from strategic planning to project management, campaign execution,branding and digital marketing.

Yoma has embarked on a parallel journey pursuing her passion for the Arts. This creative side of her career sees her as a creator, performer, emerging theatre producer, and music artist manager. In her creative endeavours, she explores themes of heritage, culture, identity, self-empowerment,representation, and social and environmental justice. She also delivers community engagement work for theatre and other artistic projects.

Notably, in 2018 Yoma co-founded the Black Women Let Loose Theatre Company CIC to spotlight the experiences of women of African and Caribbean descent through original  material and innovative performances in Bristol and beyond.Yoma also holds a significant role as a co-director of Plumwood Music Ltd, a music production and management company. Here, she provides the essential administrative “infrastructure to wrap around the creative practice” – to appoint musicians, manage music releases, and produce touring shows.

Beyond her professional engagements, Yoma Smith lends her professional expertise to support charities, social enterprises, community projects, and events, helping to transform visions into reality. Some of her recent voluntary roles include serving as a trustee for Travelling Light Theatre, a sector leader, creating outstanding theatre for young people. From 2017 to 2022, she served as a trustee for Bristol Museums Development Trust, contributing to fundraising efforts and the provision of learning opportunities for diverse communities through museums and historical houses.

LaToyah McAllister-Jones is the Executive Director for Bristol’s renowned St Pauls Carnival. She is also an associate non-executive director at NHS North Bristol Trust. 

As St Pauls Carnival’s executive director, McAllister-Jones is dedicated to building the carnival’s legacy, transforming it from solely being a single day event into a continuous celebration throughout the year of the local community and Bristol’s African Caribbean culture. 

With over 20 years’ experience working in the homelessness sector McAllister-Jones worked in multi-disciplinary environments, providing support and care to vulnerable individuals. Her experience includes working for charities and commercial entities alike. 

She has been a member of the Bristol One City culture board since its inception in 2020, where she works with organisations across Bristol to protect and deliver the city’s cultural capital to meet the One City Vision 2050. She has NED experience at a senior level, having joined North Bristol Trust as an Associate Non-Executive Director between September 2020 and March 2022.

McAllister-Jones expertise crosses front-line operational delivery as well as roles with a strategic focus; she has worked in change management, supporting small organisations with a social purpose in strategic team development to increase impact and improve outcomes. She continues to work as a facilitator and peer-coaching professional in a freelance capacity. As an associate with Action Learning Associates, LaToyah delivers action learning to senior leaders and chief executives in the social sector.

Makala Cheung is a community activist and creative from Bristol, also known as music artist KALA CHNG (www.kalachng.com). 

Makala has recently been exploring how to support creative expression and songwriting in schools for Listen Imagine Compose with Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Sound and Music and is helping lead Filwood Community Centre’s new Leveling Up project for South Bristol’s cultural hub, whilst also campaigning for cultural democracy as part of the Fun Palaces collective.

Other projects/accolades: Creative Civic Change, Bristol Cool List, Bristol Happiness Champion, China Bureau Culture Ambassador, A New Song for Bristol.

Dr Natalie Hyacinth is an academic and artist, creating and thinking about music at the intersection of sound, gender and Black life. Natalie is currently a Researcher on the European Research Council funded Sonic Street Technologies project at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her research is intersectional and interdisciplinary, incorporating themes from Cultural Geography, Black Studies, Philosophy and Afrofuturism. As part of her heritage and cultural, spiritual lineage, Natalie’s work emphasises the importance of sharing messages of love and unity through music, continuing the sonic explorations of her Caribbean forebearers by experimenting with new sounds and sonic technologies. Natalie is a founding member of the Black Music and Cultures Research Group London that seeks to centre Black female writings and thought on diaspora Black music and culture and makes and thinks about sonic worlds as part of the Sonic CyberFeminisms Collective. She explores electronic sound making under the name The Black Astral.

Ruth is Co-founder and Co-director of two Bristol Based theatre companies for women of African Caribbean Descent, Breathing Fire and Black Women Let Loose where she produces creative work locally, nationally and internationally. She performs, directs and runs theatre workshops, and works collaboratively with arts organisations, local authorities, charities and businesses. 

She is a fellow of the Arts Council funded programme Women Leaders South West in which she started up a number of walking and creative projects for woman in the South West addressing issues of isolation and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing.

Ruth’s is also a consultant specialising in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion working across the charity, public and private sectors. Her previous roles include Head of Equalities at Voscur, Manager of the Witness Service at Bristol Crown Court, and deputy Housing Manager based in a national housing charity. 

Ruth has been advisor on a number of strategic bodies including the Bristol Manifesto for Race Equality, Bristol Race Equality Forum, One Bristol, One Bristol Curriculum, the Global Majority Teachers Network, the Anchor Society, Soul Trail Wellbeing and the Bristol Legacy Foundation. 

Sarah has worked in socially engaged arts practice for over 22 years,. Originally trained in visual arts, Sarah taught art education at a secondary school before moving into learning and participation practice in both small and large cultural organisations including the Royal Opera House, Alexandra Park and Palace, Arts Council England and English Heritage. Sarah produced an international outdoor arts and circus festival for 6 years in Norfolk before relocating to the West and spent the last 7 years as CEO and Director of 3 arts charities and social enterprises in Dorset, Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset. Sarah now works in the West of England Combined Authority as the regional lead for creative and cultural working alongside a fabulous creative team whose mission is to increase investment into the creative sector and ensure the sector reflects and is representative of our region’s diverse communities.

She is a fellow of the Arts Council funded programme Women Leaders South West in which she started up a number of walking and creative projects for woman in the South West addressing issues of isolation and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing.

Emma has led Trinity since 2007, growing it from grassroots beginnings into one of Bristol’s key cultural institutions, delivering a diverse programme including live music, theatre, community youth and participatory arts activities. She has overseen major capital works, including the restoration of Trinity as well as securing the future of Jacobs Wells Baths as a civic and cultural asset. Emma is a Trustee of Bristol Law Centre and champions under-represented voices through partnership projects including Citizens for Culture and contributing to national discussions on the value of culture and arts for social change, social inclusion and community-led regeneration.

Kamina is a multidisciplinary artist, writer and creative coach based in Bristol. Her arts practice blends dance, performance, photography, and text, grounded in playful, embodied approaches. Community, conversation and collaboration have long been central to her practice, often evolving over time and unfolding in shared or public spaces. She is currently exploring what it means to be a woman in her 60s, grappling with themes of ageing, invisibility, rage, and resilience. Kamina is also founder of Rising Arts Agency, a social enterprise led by young creative thinkers empowering people to collectively aspire, provoke and mobilise towards radical cultural change.