News
Meet Clare Alton-Fletcher
24
Mar
Mar
Meet our new Chief Executive, Clare Alton-Fletcher
We’ve just welcomed our new Chief Executive, Clare Alton-Fletcher – taking on this great task still in the midst of a global pandemic. With over 10 years’ experience working across heritage and exhibitions, mainly for National Trust; Clare picks up the reigns from outgoing director Julie Gaskell-Johnson, excited to lead the team and the workshop through its revival journey.
Clare has already brought lots of energy and new ideas and has really made headway in getting the workshop smartened, modernised and refreshed ahead of welcoming our visitors, members and artists back through our doors.
“I’m really excited to join the West Yorkshire Print Workshop, taking over from Julie Gaskell-Johnson who has done such amazing things with the workshop over the past 8 years. I joined the workshop in the middle of February and have been getting to know the team, the studio holders and the place as best as I can in this time of social distancing, masks and virtual meetings but I’m so looking forward to us getting the doors open again soon, first as a gallery shop and then meeting you all as you come back to use the print facilities and as the sounds of creativity and social interaction start up again!
I have worked in arts and heritage for the last 15 years, mostly for the National Trust in various different roles from exhibitions management to operational management, property management and learning and creative programming. I love visual arts and have been lucky to work in partnership with the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery and the Arts Council as well as some art dealers in London as part of my exhibitions and creative roles. I grew up doodling, writing, taking photos and creating things and have always been surrounded by art as my dad is a painter, my gran was a quilting artist and my great grandfather was a graphic designer. My little boy, Ted who is 2 has started picking up a paint brush and scribbling with felt tips too so I’m hoping the family love of art will continue!
I am thrilled to be here and excited about the future of the workshop – we have managed to navigate the ups and downs of the past 12 months and will continue to change and adapt as we need to in these strange times. We want to keep everyone safe and that is our priority so please bear with us as we reopen carefully – we’re having a bit of a repaint and refresh of some spaces for reopening so we’re looking forward to you coming back.
Stay safe and see you soon,
Clare”