Our team
Our teams work across the craft sector
Principally based in London, but working nationally and internationally, our staff are full-time and part-time, some working remotely, and others office-based.
Our work is overseen by a leadership team of three, and governed by a board of trustees drawn from all walks of life. This includes a minimum of four maker trustees. The Board meet four times a year.
If you are interested in working with the Crafts Council, please visit our working here page where we publish details of all vacancies – employment, volunteer and trustee positions.
Our leadership team
Natalie Melton, Executive Director
Natalie Melton joined the Crafts Council as creative director in January 2019 and has spent more than a decade working in craft. From 2012- 2018 she was co-founder and managing director of The New Craftsmen, a business which curates, commissions and sells unique contemporary objects rooted in craftsmanship and narrative and made by makers from across the British Isles.
As commercial director at Arts & Business (2005-2011), she oversaw the development of Crafted, a business support & mentoring programme for highly skilled makers.
Natalie Melton, Executive Director, at the Collections Store VIP opening event with artist Jacqueline Poncelet. Photo: Hayley Madden
Nicky Dewar, Director of Programmes
With over twenty years of working within arts education, Nicky Dewar is the Director of Programmes at the Crafts Council leading our work to provide professional business support for makers, formal education initiatives, and participation activities for people of all ages to engage with craft and making.
Previously, Nicky worked for decade within music education in London and before that within Local Authorities supporting collaborations between schools and the art sector. She is a trustee of Intoart, a primary school governor, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and sews in her spare time.
Adele Hill-King, Finance and People Director
Adele Hill-King leads the finance function at Crafts Council, playing a strategic role in implementing the financial strategy set by the trustees. She also oversees facilities and administration functions. Her primary aim is to inform lead decision makers, whilst ensuring efficiency of operations and support services, so that the Crafts Council can create maximum positive impact upon UK craft, makers and audiences.
Kate Campbell, Executive Assistant and Company Secretary
Projects
Collect
Collect: the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design is presented by the Crafts Council and takes place at Somerset House.
- TF Chan, Collect Fair Director
- Sarah Dormer, Senior Collect Fair Manager
Email: collect@craftscouncil.org.uk
Collect Fair. Photo: Iona Wolff
Communications
The communications team manages the website, social media, digital presence, press and marketing of all Crafts Council activity.
- Frances McHardy, Senior Website and Digital Manager
- Oliver Cable, Digital Marketing Officer
- Anna Fielding, Associate Editor
Email: comms@craftscouncil.org.uk
Crafts magazine Autumn/Winter 2024 launch party. Photo: Elijah Serumaga
Craft Ecology
- Amelia Lawrence, Sector Support Manager
- Sophie Heathscott, Membership Manager
- Charlotte Alderman, Memberships Producer
Call: + 44 (0) 207 806 2542
Email: membership@craftscouncil.org.uk
Email: directory@craftscouncil.org.uk
Halima Cassell as seen in Crafts magazine issue 290. Photo: Emli Bendixen
Development
The development team works to raise funds from individuals, businesses, Trusts and Foundations for our activities.
- Emily Simms, Senior Development Manager
- Zarif Shamil, Sponsorship and Partnerships Account Executive
- Laura Hollingworth, Individual Giving Officer
Call +44 (0) 207 806 2543
Email: development@craftscouncil.org.uk
Visitors looking at a Grayson Perry tapestry, held in Crafts Council Collection. Photo: Max McClure
Finance
The finance team manage the finances of the Crafts Council.
- Megan Chidlow, Finance Manager
- Mary Pearce, Finance Officer
- Dee Phillips, Finance Assistant
Email: finance@craftscouncil.org.uk
If your query is about Crafts magazine subscriptions payments please contact craftsmagazine@subscriptionhelpline.co.uk or call +44 (0)1293 312 216
'Sea' by Alice Kettle at an exhibition at 99 Bishopsgate in 2023. Photo Ⓒ David Parry: PA Media
Gallery
Our front of house team welcome visitors to our galleryand ensure that their experience is positive and rewarding. They manage all bookings, hires and public events.
- Petra Lazarek, Gallery Sales and Business Development Manager
Email: gallery@craftscouncil.org.uk
Email: hire@craftscouncil.org.uk
Toast Residency at the Crafts Council Gallery. Photo: James Bannister
Insights
- Haydn Parks, Senior Salesforce Administrator
Textile artist Cecilia Charlton at her loom, from the Spring/Summer 2023 issue of Crafts. Photo: Nina Manandhar
Learning and participation
The learning and participation team covers learning across all formal education and informal settings.
- Amanda Rigler, Senior Learning and Participation Manager
- Melise Djemal, Education Manager
- Jazz Willett, Participation Manager
- Faith Rubia, Learning and Participation Producer
- Chaimaa El Azrek, Young Craft Citizen: Shoreditch Works Placement
- Melisande Prince-Hodges, Young Craft Citizen: Shoreditch Works Placement
Students at a Craft School exhibition in the Crafts Council Gallery. Photo: Steve Bainbridge
Operations
Crafts Council gallery and office facilities and operational management.
- Edi Salihu, Senior Operations Manager
Crafts Council Gallery. Photo: David Grandorge
People
The people team lead on administration, recruitment, training and development and organisational culture across Crafts Council projects.
- Ruth Richardson, Senior HR Manager
- Chris Hollis, HR Officer
Call +44 (0) 207 806 2500
Email HR and recruitment enquiries to recruitment@craftscouncil.org.uk
Young Craft Citizens collections consultation session. Photo by Jazz Willett
Public Programmes
The public programmes team develop and deliver exhibitions and manage the Crafts Council Collections.
- Deborah Ridley, Senior Programmes and Collections Manager
- Katarina Kelsey, Collections Coordinator
- Aditi Ranganathan, Young Craft Citizen: Collection Placement (Collections Valuation Project)
Email: exhibitions@craftscouncil.org.uk
Email: collection@craftscouncil.org.uk
5&20 Group Exhibition at Brookfield Properties. Photo: Matt Alexander, PA Media
Research and policy
The research team manage the commissioning and analysis of evidence about the crafts sector and compile a monthly Research & Policy brief about the sector.
Email: policy@craftscouncil.org.uk
Email: research@craftscouncil.org.uk