ActionSpace’s Co-Director, Barbara van Heel will be leaving ActionSpace after twenty years at the organisation. Under her leadership as Co-Director, ActionSpace has grown exponentially and is now supporting nearly seventy artists across three dedicated studios in London. We want to thank Barbara for her guidance, leadership and dedication to growing ActionSpace into the organisation it is today.
Barbara reflects on twenty years at ActionSpace
“I feel truly fortunate to have been able to work for such an amazing company. ActionSpace has been a major part of my life for the last twenty years and have loved it.
I’ve loved working with an incredible, dedicated team of staff, Trustees and artists facilitators but most of all I loved seeing the extraordinary achievements of all ActionSpace artists. There are too many achievements to describe here but what links them all is the perseverance of everyone in the team to make it happen. That same determination made us grow from a small company with three core staff members to eight, increasing our income three-fold and our Arts Council England funding from £45k to £178K. However, where the real growth lies, is what our artists are doing right now and the recognition they are receiving. The majority of our artists have also been with ActionSpace for over twenty years, and again it’s determination and perseverance in their art practices that has made this all possible.
Thank you to everyone for supporting ActionSpace on this journey, from funders to our partners. I couldn’t have done this without the comradery of you all but in particular Charlotte, Sheryll and Ian. Thank you.”
– Barbara van Heel
John Tizard, Chair of the Board of Trustees, shares:
“Barbara leaves ActionSpace having made a fantastic and almost immeasurable contribution. The current strength, reach and impact of ActionSpace is her legacy. For every one of us whether we are artists, staff, trustees, funders, partners, or friends of ActionSpace, an ActionSpace without Barbara is difficult to imagine. We are so used to her calm, professional yet passionate leadership.
I have known Barbara for all the time I have been a trustee and over the last six years Chair at ActionSpace. As the Co-Director responsible for income generation, financial management and governance, Barbara has provided the Trustees and funders with the confidence that ActionSpace has been and remains financially sustainable. Her wider contribution to the leadership of the charity alongside Sheryll has ensured ever growing opportunities for the artists at ActionSpace. Her compassionate yet firm leadership has provided support and guidance for ActionSpace’s staff and volunteers.
Over her twenty years at ActionSpace Barbara will have witnessed so much change and development. She has made much of these happen. She has also had to manage some challenges too but the fact that ActionSpace has come through adversity to be the visual art organisation that it is today and will be in the future is testimony to Barbara’s vision, commitment and stewardship.
Barbara’s influence has not been confined to ActionSpace itself. She has made a positive impact across the wider arts sector and is rightly recognised for this. I can recall many conversations with Barbara when her vision for the rights of learning disabled artists shone out like a bright beacon.
I knew that her advice to me as Chair and to my fellow Trustees would be sound, practical and in the best interests of ActionSpace, our mission, and the artists.
We will miss Barbara. We wish her well as she moves to new opportunities and hope that she will remain in touch and retain her interest in ActionSpace and what we champion.
Everyone at ActionSpace today and over the last twenty years owes Barbara a very big “thank you”. This thank you will be endorsed by colleagues across the sector. This “goodbye” has to be more “au revoir”.”
– John Tizard, Chair of the Board of Trustees
If you would like to share a farewell message for Barbara please email info@actionspace.org
