In 1994, the London Arts Board commissioned Frances Morrell to write 'Engines of Prosperity', a report which led to the establishment of Arts Inform.  From 1997-2008, Arts Inform was led by joint Chief Executives Frances Morrell and Linda Payne, after which the staffing structure changed to its current form.

Catherine Sutton – Director

Catherine initially trained in music, taking a BA at York University and MA at Sussex University. After a short period of instrumental teaching and freelance work she was awarded a traineeship in Music Education from the Arts Council of England, spending her training year at the Royal Festival Hall. She was subsequently employed for ten years as Performing Arts Education Officer at the RFH where she developed a wide ranging learning and participation programme for schools, community groups and audiences.

While specialising in music she also led on many cross arts projects and initiatives in dance and literature, as well as devising projects which linked to areas of the curriculum including maths and science. In 2003 Catherine was appointed Head of ENO Baylis, the Learning and Participation department for English National Opera. Here she was responsible for a major programme of change, integrating education more fully into the wider Company. Her achievements included the production of a full-length opera performed by KS2 and 3 pupils on the London Coliseum stage, numerous other commissions of new music theatre works for children, families and non professional singers and the initial development of ENO Interactive.

Catherine joined Arts Inform in the capacity of Acting Director in October 2009.

Catherine Rose - Acting Director (Maternity Cover)

Catherine Rose is a project and events manager for the arts and education, who also works as a musician and journalist. She leads her own company, Catherine Rose’s Office (CRO Ltd), which has recently carried out two large-scale projects for Creative Partnerships: Creativity for Life and the UK Centre for Carnival Arts pilot project. CRO Ltd also organises the Olney Conducting Workshops. Catherine is well-known as the former Editor of ArtsProfessional magazine, the leading journal for arts managers, with which she continues to be associated. She is the author of two guides for arts managers: ‘Building Better Relationships with Schools’ (with Sarah Bedell and Anne Roberts) and ‘The Family Factor’, both of which are based on projects carried out during her time as Education Programme Manager at Eastern Touring Agency (now Momentum Arts). She also conducts the Bedfordshire County Youth Third Orchestra and a number of other amateur groups.

Helen Thorn - Deputy Director

Helen Thorn graduated with an Honours degree in History of Art, University of Melbourne. She began working in the Museum and Gallery sector in 1998 has worked at several leading galleries including: the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces, the Victorian College of the Arts Gallery and the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2003, Helen worked at the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Helen has also worked as a television panelist on the ABC’s Arts Program Vulture in 2005.

At the National Gallery of Victoria in the role of Program Coordinator, she devised and delivered a range of public and education programs for all ages. During her time there she worked on several high profile exhibitions including: The Impressionists: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay (2004), Edvard Munch: The Frieze of Life (2004), Dutch Masters from the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (2005) and Pissarro: The First Impressionist (2006).

Since moving to the UK in 2006, Helen has worked at the Courtauld Institute of Art as an Events Coordinator and recently worked for Arts Council England, East for 3 years supporting arts organisations and individuals in the East of England. She joined Arts Inform in April 2010 as Deputy Director and will be supporting and delivering Arts Inform’s key projects.

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Freelance and Consultancy Staff

In addition to our Core Staff, Arts Inform regularly employ freelancers and consultants on a project by project basis. 

Current freelance staff include:

• Rachael Castell – Project Manager, Website
• Phil Gagg – Evaluation Consultant
• John Sharples – Business Consultant
• Sarah Wilkinson – Coordinator, Focus Groups

For reference

Chartered Accountants: Lachman Smith Ltd

Company Secretary: John Parker, IJP Community Regeneration       

Company Banking: Coutts & Co.