We chatted to Katherine about her 16 years working with us and her highlights.
When did you join CAN?
I joined Community Arts North West (CAN) in 2010 as Producer for Exodus, CAN’s flagship and pioneering programme working alongside refugees and new migrant communities.
What were you doing before you joined us?
Before CAN, I worked in inclusion, community development, and arts development roles across the UK and in El Salvador. I was passionate about amplifying the voices of refugee and new migrant artists and communities and had been involved in development initiatives in Birmingham and on a national level.
I heard Cilla Baynes, then CAN’s Creative Director, speak at a conference in the early noughties and was inspired. I followed CAN’s work closely. The Exodus Producer role felt like a natural step.
What have been some highlights of your time at CAN?
I’ve loved the meeting point between arts and social justice – some of my proudest experiences have come from working collaboratively to make ambitious creative projects that speak out against injustice.
Rule 35 was created in collaboration with women who had experience of the asylum and detention system. They wanted to speak out about the harsh realities of detention and worked alongside an incredible team of artists and volunteers, with Cheryl Martin directing. The immersive piece used public and hidden spaces at Z‑Arts to recreate the fear and uncertainty of detention. The women played the guards, while the audience took on the role of detainees. It was powerful, unsettling, and thought‑provoking, sparking important conversations and attracted media attention.
Still I Rise was another ground‑breaking project, led by international women artists and was directed by Yusra Warsama. They created an immersive visual arts trail in Manchester Art Gallery, in partnership with Digital Women’s Archive North, Manchester Art Gallery, and Journeys Festival International. The trail showcased the women’s work while challenging ideas of representation, colonialism, and the white gaze within gallery and museum spaces. It opened a vital dialogue between institutions and global majority artists about historical power imbalances.
The Horizons Festival has been a real highlight. It is a platform celebrating the incredible diversity of creativity, ideas, and expression within Manchester’s newer communities. Working alongside inspiring artists, community members, leaders, campaigners, and our colleagues at HOME, each year brings the challenge of distilling a wealth of talent and ideas into a three‑day festival and enriches the city’s cultural landscape.
Most recently, I co-produced World of Song, a music and heritage partnership programme, with Band on the Wall, celebrating the rich musical traditions of people who have recently migrated to Greater Manchester.
I led two of the six projects: Mother Song Father Song exploring the musical traditions of men new to the UK, and Without Borders, supporting the development of a youth band, whilst also sharing my expertise to support the delivery of the wider programme.
It was a great way to conclude my time in Manchester, having the opportunity to focus on music making with musicians from across the world, which has always been a strong personal interest. World of Song combined my background in music with CAN’s extensive relationships with musicians. It even gave me the chance to blow some cobwebs out of my clarinet to perform with the youth band!
I’ve felt incredibly privileged to work side by side with artists, supporting their creative ambitions and helping bring their visions to life. Seeing that work out in the world, gaining recognition and reaching new audiences, is a joy.
Why is CAN’s work so important?
CAN’s work matters because it is rooted in long‑term, trusted relationships with communities and artists who have historically been overlooked. CAN connects artists, communities, Greater Manchester’s cultural scene, and civil society – creating vibrant, meaningful art together that speaks about the world we live in and helps envisage a better, more equal one.
Being part of CAN’s family of artists, communities, and organisations has been a huge privilege. I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey. Manchester will always hold a special place in my heart.
