The SLiCE® Fellowship

Helen works at Touchstones Rochdale, where she facilitates the borough’s cultural education partnership – supporting collaboration between schools and arts organisations to improve access to cultural education. Helen has previously worked within the learning and engagement teams in a number of museums and galleries and served as Director of Blaze - a youth-led arts organisation in Lancashire.

“I’m looking forward to deepening my understanding of the education sector and using this knowledge to support cross sector collaboration and place based approaches to cultural education.” 

Magdalen Bartlett is the CEO of Afrocats, a Manchester-based arts and wellbeing charity working with children, young people, and communities from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Her work centres on culturally relevant creative practice, supporting participants to build confidence, identity, and voice through the arts. Magdalen is passionate about equity, co-production, and creating inclusive pathways into education and culture.

As a SLiCE® Fellow, she is keen to deepen her leadership practice and strengthen partnerships between schools and cultural organisations to expand access to meaningful creative opportunities 

Mike Tucker is Head of Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, the UK’s largest youth drama charity. He leads national programmes and flagship events that use drama to unlock confidence, creativity and essential life skills in young people. 
 
Based in London, Mike oversees a nationwide portfolio of participatory arts initiatives for schools, including an annual Shakespeare festival that brings more than 10,000 pupils onto professional stages each year. He is also a trustee at Leeds Heritage Theatres, serving on the board that oversees the city’s three historic venues and helping connect theatre programmes with young people and communities across Yorkshire. 
 
A passionate advocate for arts access and educational equity, Mike is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 
“I want to use the Fellowship to explore how drama-based learning can become more embedded within mainstream education, particularly around oracy and enrichment. SLiCE will support me to deepen our work with teachers and young people facing structural disadvantage, including SEND, while building a stronger peer network and contributing to sector conversations about cultural education and system change.” 

After 16 years working in arts and cultural education, development and engagement, I am excited to take my practice to the next level, undertaking this fellowship in my new role of Programmes Manager at Manchester Jewish Museum. 
 
My work is driven by a desire to get high quality art and culture to everyone. Partnering with and learning from other cultural and educational leaders, I am excited about what we can achieve together, bringing innovative practice direct to children and young people. 

My name is Jill Coyne, and I am the EYFS Lead and Art Lead at Our Lady Star of the Sea. These two subject areas are my passion, and I love seeing strong practice in both embedded across all year groups throughout the school. 

I began our school’s Artsmark journey four years ago, during which I established an art studio within the school and introduced a new programme of study to ensure all pupils could access high-quality art provision. I also completed the Leading the Arts in you School Arts Leadership course with Curious Minds, and as a school we were proud to achieve the Silver Artsmark Award. 

I am excited to begin the SLICE course and look forward to continuing to develop cultural and artistic opportunities and changes across our school. 

Rachel Davies is a middle leader and art teacher in a SEND setting, with over 25 years of experience in education. She is deeply passionate about cultural education and the transformative opportunities it can offer young people, believing that access to creativity, the arts, and meaningful cultural experiences should be available to every pupil, regardless of their needs or barriers to learning. 

"I remain committed to continual learning and professional development, recognising that there are always new perspectives, approaches, and opportunities to explore. Beginning the SLICE Fellowship Programme marks an exciting new chapter in my professional journey, providing opportunities to collaborate with like-minded educators, broaden my understanding of cultural leadership, and explore innovative approaches to inclusion and engagement. I am particularly excited to discover how the ideas, partnerships, and experiences developed through the programme can be translated into enriching opportunities for pupils within my SEND setting, helping them build confidence, self-expression, and a stronger connection to the wider world through art and culture."

With a creative practice as a musician and theatre maker, Bex began her professional career as a gigging musician and youth arts worker in inner-city communities in Northern England. She has continued to work within the creative, cultural, community and education sectors in a range of roles such as co-leading a BA (Hons) in Community Music, directing the North East Youth Music Action Zone, heading up a Youth and Community programme in a large NPO, performing and/or facilitating work in India, Australia, South Africa, America, Brazil and Europe, with many a joyful project in drizzly northern towns. She has just completed a PhD exploring the affordances of singing-youth theatre practice. She currently works freelance with Forge LCEP and is the Founding Director of the arts-education charity, GLOW Newcastle.  

My current role is Director of Culture and Enrichment at Madeley School in North Staffordshire. With over 20 years experience as a teacher of Art and Design and engaging with cultural organisations to enhance learning opportunities for young people, I am looking forward to developing collaborations seeking to advocate cultural education within my own setting and beyond. I am passionate about young people having access to cultural opportunities, feeling seen and valued to help them grow and discover who they are.  

Nicola is an experienced dance educator and arts professional with nearly 20 years experience in secondary education. She trained at Preston College on the Professional Dancers and Teachers of Dance programme, gaining a range of dance teaching and A Level qualifications, before completing a degree in Dance and English Literature at the University of Roehampton followed by a graduate teacher programme resulting in QTS. Nicola's career in schools has spanned classroom teaching, Head of Department, and senior leadership roles, alongside extensive freelance work across private dance schools, adult education, nurseries, and community settings. 
Nicola currently works as an LCEP (Local Cultural Education Partnership) Development Officer for St Helens Council, as well as being the MNVP (Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership) Lead for Wigan. She also works freelance and as a GCSE Dance moderator.

"I applied for the SLiCE Fellowship to further develop my leadership within cultural education and to deepen my understanding of how inclusive, place-based approaches can broaden access to the arts. I am particularly interested in strengthening cross-sector partnerships and exploring how creative opportunities can better reach underrepresented communities. Through the programme, I hope to build on my strategic work, connect with like-minded professionals, and develop sustainable approaches that create meaningful, long-term impact for children and young people. "

Culture is such a broad term which is often difficult to articulate - it is in everything that we do and believe, in the way that we live and in our practices and value systems. The diversity in this undefinable concept has enriched my life and the lives of those around me. It has influenced the lens through which I see the world and has impacted the way I teach and lead. 
 
Through the SLiCE programme, I hope to find a way to meaningfully embed cultural education through the arts into the heart of our curriculum, giving each and every child the opportunity to explore and find their own interests and talents. I hope to learn from other professionals and gain a broader perspective on cultural education available within our communities.  

Steph is a Senior Lecturer in Primary and Childhood Education and Art & Design Technology Lead at Edge Hill University. She previously spent over 21 years teaching in diverse primary settings, developing strong interests in arts education, mental health, wellbeing and inclusive practice. As Art Lead, she helped her school achieve a Gold Artsmark Award, trained as an Arts Award Adviser and built partnerships with Bluecoat, Tate Liverpool, National Museums Liverpool and dot‑art. She led creative initiatives including artist‑led projects, The World Reimagined, a sculpture trail and a sensory garden supporting pupil wellbeing.

Steph also served as Mental Health Lead and worked within the Inclusion Team, strengthening her commitment to equality, diversity and trauma‑informed practice. She collaborated with Edge Hill University, Everton in the Community and Tate Liverpool to deliver Tackling the Blues. She is completing an MA focused on art education, anti‑racist curricula and wellbeing, and teaches across BA and PGCE programmes.

"I hope being part of the SLiCE programme will strengthen my leadership in cultural education and help me build sustainable partnerships between teacher education, schools and cultural organisations, creating more inclusive and meaningful creative opportunities for children, trainee teachers and local communities."

Vicki Kennedy is Head of Learning & Participation at Sunderland Culture, where she leads formal and informal learning and engagement across Arts Centre Washington, National Glass Centre, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, alongside city-wide programmes. Born and bred in Sunderland, Vicky has worked in creative and cultural education for 25 years. She is  passionate about ensuring all children and young people have access to rich, equitable creative and cultural education.

"Through the SLiCE Fellowship, I hope to meet like-minded people, continue my learning journey, and use that learning to strengthen our organisational approach and contribute to cultural education in Sunderland and beyond."