Metal was founded by Jude Kelly OBE in 2002 and was created as an artistic laboratory to champion the need for continual investment in artistic investigation and the development of innovative ideas that could shift the thinking in the UK cultural sector.

We provide innovative, multi-disciplinary residency space for artists from the UK and overseas in Liverpool and Southend on Sea.  

Alongside providing space for artists and thinkers to develop their ideas and further the philosophy of their work, we are interested in how this artistic process, and the practice of artists can input into, and potentially influence political and social issues of the day.

Through our artistic programme we draw out evidence and ideas for a better understanding of the artist’s role in civic life, and ensure that these are shared with a wide and diverse set of partners. 

These ideas are showcased and disseminated on a regular basis through residencies, exhibitions, events, performance, discussion and publications.

Jude Kelly

Jude Kelly OBE is founder and now chair of Metal, having spent the first three years of Metal's development as artistic director.  She is an award-winning theatre director who for the last five years has been one of the top ten most powerful people in British Theatre.  She is currently artistic director at the Southbank Centre.

Colette Bailey

Colette Bailey is Metal's Managing Director - since the company's inception in 2002.  She brings extensive experience of working in large scale public arenas via public art consultancy, exhibitions, participatory design projects and education projects.  Her professional experience is mainly in the Visual Arts.  She was managing director of the Royal Society of British Sculptors (RBS) from 1998 - 2002.  She is a freelance writer and commentator on the arts and has published articles in a number of journals and publications.  Colette is based at Metal in Southend on Sea.

Ian Brownbill

Ian Brownbill is Metal’s Director in Liverpool.  He is a musician who formerly played with the multi-award-winning Black Dyke Mills Band and toured all over the world playing with artists such as Tori Amos and Barclay James Harvest.  He has written numerous articles on brass bands for music journals and has been involved with several music education projects, including teaching at St. Vincent’s School for the Blind.  Alongside his music career, Ian has developed extensive experience in business development and project management within community and corporate contexts.  Ian is based at Metal in Liverpool.

Sean McLoughlin

Sean McLoughlin is Senior Producer responsible for developing Metal's programme in Southend on Sea. He is a musician, and is an experienced music promoter, having been instrumental in the development of the Sutton with Shopland Festival in Rochford, Essex from 2004 - 2007.  In his role at Southend's YMCA (2001 – 2007) he developed the pioneering Cue Music recording studio and accredited Open College Network course for young people.  He is skilled at developing and delivery a wide range of arts projects and disciplines.  Sean is based at Metal in Southend on Sea.

Emma Mollica

Emma Mollica is Metal's Operations Manager.  She brings extensive experience of working on large events and productions.  Her professional experience is mainly within Television.  She has worked most of her career to date in Talent Artist relations for MTV Networks Europe and amongst other things she worked on MTV Europe Music Awards.  She also worked for Hat Trick productions working on various shows including ‘Have I Got News for You’ and ‘Room 101’. Emma is based at Metal in Southend on Sea.

Jenny Porter

Jenny Porter is Project Manager at Metal.  She is a visual artist.  She joined Metal from the administrative team at FACT, the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology in Liverpool.  She has a wide knowledge of digital and new media work.  With fantastic IT skills, Jenny is an experienced administrator, and is developing her skills as a project manager and curator at Metal.  Jenny is based at Metal in Liverpool.

Jodie Mellor

Jodie Mellor is a visual artist and singer with a passion for the development of Liverpool's thriving contemporary arts, music and culture scene. Jodie is also a board member for The Suitcase Ensemble and is based at Metal in Liverpool.

Camilla Fox

Camilla Fox trained as a graphic designer and, after working in publishing for several years, taught design, had an interior decorating and design partnership, and has a MA in Event Marketing Management.  She is an experienced project manager and business administrator, and, outside of Metal, is involved in the running of a local annual festival.  Camilla runs the Metal Arts Award programme and is based at Metal in Southend on Sea.

Stephanie Stevenson

Stephanie is an Administrator at Metal. She first came to Metal as a volunteer during the Village Green festival. With a working knowledge of French and Italian, Stephanie comes from a background of Travel and Tourism working as an International Tour Manager. She has also worked extensively in administrative positions in training, banking and media. Stephanie is based at Metal in Southend on Sea.

Simon Poulter

Simon Poulter is an artist and curator based in London. He studied painting at Norwich School of Art and St Martins. Simon develops programmes and commissions for a variety of organisations including Metal, Watershed, MAC and the AND Festival. His practice engages the political aspects of digital culture with a continuing interest in behaviour and propaganda. He is Metal's freelance Artistic Curator at Metal, developing projects in Liverpool and Southend.

Michaela Freeman

Michaela Freeman is Metal's freelance Online Coordinator, looking after Metal's website and social media, making films for Metal's online channel, and also looking after IDEA13, an online network for culture in Southend, set up by Metal in 2008. She also works as a curator and editor of State art magazine; with an MA in Fine Art Administration and Curatorship from Goldsmiths College. Michaela is based in Southend.

Patrons

Sir Anthony Caro
David Hockney

Trustees

Jude Kelly OBE
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Nihal Arthanayake
Ian Thompson
Sir Ian McKellen
Rachel Lichtenstein
Paul Morley