Dr Louise Atkinson
Louise is co founder of The Highrise Project and a visual artist, researcher and educator, specialising in the relationship between art and ethnography. Her research and practice involves responding to ideas around people and place, creating work which represents the experiences, associations and memories of a particular area.
Through her practice-based research, she also collaborates with other artists and participants to create co-produced installations. Producing creative interpretation works with participants for galleries including Tate Britain, Graves Gallery, Sheffield, and Leeds City Art Gallery. She also has extensive experience of devising and delivering workshops with a range of participants in both formal and non-formal settings.
Victoria Kortekaas
Victoria is co founder of The Highrise Project and a visual artist who works with a variety of different media and technologies, including photography, textiles, web design, typography, digital art, and desktop publishing. Her practice highlights and explores issues surrounding economic and social inequalities in working class communities. Through her practice she develops participatory strategies to enable individuals and groups to tell their stories through creative media.
Her previous work has included a series of photoworks and artist books depicting participants responses to societal prejudices around unemployment. Her experience includes working in community arts education and also on participatory arts projects with a range of stakeholders, including Leeds City Council, East Street Arts and other local agencies to create visual identities for different areas.
Symon Ramsay
Symon is a digital artist from Bramley. His work is a response to a life-changing accident he experienced in 1978 and explores the repercussions of this event on his mental health. Working in technology is a new experience for him, especially as an older artist. He finds inspiration in his relationship with his granddaughter and the skills they develop while creating art together.
Mike Wallis
Although recently resident in Scotland, Mike has been involved in various arts and craft projects around Leeds and West Yorkshire since the ’90s and can’t seem to give it up. A collector of hobbies that would be beneficial in a post apocalyptic world, The Highrise Project is his first board position.
Dr Gemma Bridge
Gemma is a public health and sustainability researcher, passionate about working with communities to improve the health and wellbeing of people and places. In her spare time, Gemma enjoys creating collages, running, and volunteering.
Teresa Mack
As the Director of Craft Conscious CIC and a mixed media artist, Teresa integrates her expertise in the third sector with her passion for art. Committed to community empowerment, she is an advocate for The Highrise Project and their approach to self-advocacy and digital inclusion through art.
Edward Thompson
Ed (Edek) Thompson is a Leeds based artist and community arts facilitator. Ed’s practice is concerned with climate action, sustainability, and mental well-being. Ed is the founder of Edek’s Doodle Chat, relaxed social groups with a focus on creativity, being social, and mental health.
Chris Walls
Chris is a Headingley resident and amateur musician, bringing 19 years experience in the private sector. His background is in analytics, customer strategy, marketing and ecommerce in large and small businesses globally, including a decade living in Asia.