About The Imagination Museum

Sarah Archdeacon

Corali was founded by a social service worker, Virginia Moffatt, in a Southwark day centre in 1989. Initially a casual dance group, the name Corali is made of letters from the original company members’ names. In 1991, the company received its first grant and set up independently in an office at a local community centre. Sarah Archdeacon joined the company as a volunteer in 1991 and became Artistic Director in 1992

Corali exists to make excellent and exciting live performances and film. Our practice is rooted in collaboration; we explore the relationship between dancers who identify as learning-disabled and those who do not; between dance and other art forms; and between professional and participatory artwork. Recent work includes an international tour of our family show Super Hot Hot Dog, performing with Thick & Tight at the International Mime festival, and winning the Pick the Fest award at the Oska Bright film festival 2022.

Katie Green

Director of dance company Made By Katie Green, Katie has focused her practice working with dance in extraordinary spaces such as museums, heritage sites and libraries since 2013.

Alongside her own ‘Dancing Tour Guide’ project and the Dancing in Caves project,  she has created new work for the British Museum, Ipswich Museum, worked on the Surrey Arts commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, created a promenade work for the bicentenary of Dulwich Picture Gallery with curator Helen Hillyard in 2017 and was commissioned by Delight to create a new promenade work for libraries called The Story Detectives in 2019. Her Imagination Museum: Mayflower 400 project toured from 2018-2021 as part of the commemorations for the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from Plymouth to America in 1620. Her most recent project-in-development A Gathering Place responds choreographically to archaeology, using dance, music and story-telling as part of a series of walks through heritage landscapes.

Dan Hadley

Dan Hadley is a specialist in strategic development in the cultural sector. He works with forward-looking organisations on change and innovation. Dan began his career in performing arts marketing with Phoenix Dance Company and Opera North. In 2000, he set up an independent consultancy working across the UK, and formed Wafer Hadley with co-Director Kate Wafer in 2006, focusing on work with museums, heritage and visual arts. Dan is associated with a number of transformational national projects, including the regeneration of The Piece Hall in Halifax, developing local authority strategy around Hull’s City of Culture year, and the evaluation of significant national partnerships including the Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme, and the Humber Museums Partnership.

Rob James

Rob James is a freelance communications consultant with over 15 years’ experience of working for some of the world’s leading arts and cultural organisations.

Before going freelance he worked as Head of Communications at English National Ballet, PR Manager at the Science Museum, Press Officer at Sadler’s Wells and Account Manager at Arthur Leone PR, an arts and heritage PR agency.

Rob has a wealth of experience in developing comprehensive communications strategies, creative PR and marketing campaigns, crisis management and profile development.

He is passionate about the power of the arts and has dedicated his career to working with creatives and organisations to promote their work and voice to the widest possible audience.

Louise Katerega

Louise Katerega, describes herself as a woman of Ugandan and English heritage raised in North Wales and has been a versatile contributor to the UK dance scene for three decades.

She is especially acknowledged for her national and international development work in dance by, for and with disabled people. This includes work on four continents, five Olympic projects and being among the first to platform disabled dancers in high level choreographic competition.

A proudly adopted daughter of Leicester, she has enjoyed a broad portfolio career locally, nationally and internationally, as a performer, teacher and choreographer. Post-parenthood, her career has also seen her evolve into a consultant, strategic thinker, dramaturg and creative producer, often in the areas of equity, equality, diversity, inclusion and general advocacy for people of Global Majority heritage – in all our beautiful intersectionality!

In 2016 Louise began working with People Dancing, the UKs leading organisation for community and participatory dance, a partnership which two years later became Voice and Presence, activities designed to acknowledge amplify and celebrate the contribution of women of the African Diaspora to participatory dance. By 2020 her work had expanded across the company and to Global Majority heritage artists of any gender identity. In April 2023, she joined the executive team at the organisation as Head of Professional Development, a role that continues to encompass this change-making agenda.

Louise trained at London Contemporary Dance School, Coventry University (Performing Arts) holds a first-class degree in Film and Literature from the University of Warwick and trained as a life coach. 

Former trusteeships include Birmingham Royal Ballet (Education), ArtReach a multi- and outdoor arts company, NeSSIE, a children’s mental health CIC and she now serves dynamic governance strategists, RIAC and on the board of Phoenix Dance Theatre. Louise advises on the internationally focussed MA in Participation, Communities, Activism at The Place/University of East London and is part of the leadership of ID Dance Company, a talent development programme based in Leicester for dancers with different bodies and minds initiated by We Are Epic. Her own creative adventures are currently manifesting through Pathways House Collective.

Alice Odin

Alice has worked in the arts and cultural sector for over twenty years, managing learning and participation programmes in museums (The Courtauld Gallery, Ben Uri Gallery) and dance organisations (Shobana Jeyasingh Dance). She also delivers projects with community groups (Co-Production Collective) and lectures at universities (King’s College London, Central Saint Martin – UAL, Universite Lyon 2, France).

Alice also works as a freelance project manager, a gallery educator and a writer for selected art and sector specific publications.

Danielle Pipe

Danielle is an independent sustainability consultant with a background in affordable housing and energy efficiency and an MSc in Sustainability and Consultancy from the University of Leeds. Currently also working part-time as a Sustainability Co-ordinator at Julie’s Bicycle. Previously, she has worked with Leeds 2023 Year of Culture developing their sustainability policy as well as with Sustainable Arts in Leeds (SAIL), delivering Carbon Literacy Training. As an independent consultant, Danielle has worked with a variety of creatives and organisations from sculptors, puppeteers and painters to dance and theatre companies.

Danielle focuses on providing a shame free, collaborative approach to supporting artists to improve the environmental impact of their work. Underpinned by developing knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and building confidence to support artists to adopt more sustainable methods in their own work and feel comfortable to share their knowledge with others.

Vicky Thornton

Vicky Thornton (Clearcut) is a Creative Producer and Executive Director with over 22 years’ experience specialising in supporting dance artists and dance companies to realise their creative ambitions, deliver exceptional experiences, and create sustainable business models.

Vicky has championed cross-artform practice throughout her career, spearheading South East Dance’s dance film work and then moving into dance and visual art, commissioning dance collaborations with Turner Contemporary, Stour Valley Arts and Jerwood Gallery. As Executive Director of ZoieLogic Dance Theatre she supported the company’s vision of presenting dance in alternative and unconventional spaces and finally came to dance in museums and heritage spaces through writing the evaluation of The Imagination Museum: Mayflower 400 Strategic Touring project which introduced her to the work of Katie Green.

Vicky is Co-Director of Clearcut and also Business and Development Director of Impact Dance Foundation and is now Executive Producer of Made by Katie Green.

Showtown

Showtown is Blackpool’s brand new all-singing, all-dancing museum and you’ll find them right in the heart of the Golden Mile, next door but one to Blackpool Tower!

Showtown is the ultimate celebration of Blackpool, the greatest seaside resort in the UK and world famous as a capital of entertainment.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is an inspiring, surprising, family-friendly, free Museum and Gardens in south London. The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share.

Trinity Laban

Trinity Laban is the UK’s only conservatoire of music and contemporary dance.

They identify, support and develop talented and innovative performers and creators throughout their creative lives, nurturing their transformation into resourceful, enterprising and adaptable artistic leaders ready to make a positive change to society.

Wheal Martyn Clay Works

China clay mining has shaped the landscape, lives of people and economy of mid-Cornwall for over 250 years. It is Cornwall’s largest mining industry.

A fully Accredited Museum, Wheal Martyn Clay Works is based within two Victorian china clay works, now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. They tell the story of this fascinating industry and the people who worked and lived in the shadows of Cornwall’s iconic ‘white pyramids’.

A visit might include: wandering around the interactive Discovery Centre, exploring historic trails, woodland walks in grounds teeming with wildlife, and spectacular views of a modern working clay pit.

Their collections include working waterwheels, tools and machinery, vintage lorries and an extensive archive.

DanceEast

DanceEast is one of the UK’s leading national dance organisations. Their mission is to remain at the vanguard of artistic, participatory and educational practice in dance. Their vision is a world where everyone values the extraordinary power of dance. They provide extraordinary performances and life-affirming participatory opportunities for all and offer a dynamic, nurturing environment for artists at all stages of their career.

Colchester and Ipswich Museums

With a unique mix of fascinating displays, the latest technology and hands-on activities, there is lots to explore and discover across Colchester + Ipswich Museums.

• Explore the national story of Roman and Norman conquest, Boudiccan revolt and Civil War at Colchester Castle.
• Find out about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change at the nearby Natural History Museum.
• Immerse yourself in over 500 years of history in the stunning Tudor Mansion, set within Christchurch Park.

Arts & Heritage

Arts&Heritage (A&H) forges collaborations between artists, communities, museums and heritage sites. Founded in Northumberland, but operating nationally, it challenges how people explore and engage with heritage narratives and shows museums and heritage sites how artists can add new insight, create new conversations and involve wider communities in their work.

Alongside pioneering a successful 10-year skills development programme for the museum and heritage sector, A&H also delivers new contemporary art programmes across the country and shares knowledge, undertakes research and acts as consultants, advisors and mentors for the arts and heritage sectors.

Association for Suffolk Museums

The Association for Suffolk Museums (AFSM) works with around 60 museums and associate members with related interests to help make Suffolk an attractive place to live, work and visit. AFSM is an independent charity and membership body, funded and supported by all local authorities in Suffolk. It also attracts funding for and manages joint museum projects, provides training and networking opportunities along with advice on all areas of museum management. AFSM is managed by representatives from each local authority in Suffolk, alongside museum representatives.