We are beyond excited to welcome Mary Cork and Bianca Chu to the Procreate Project team.
Thanks to the Arts Council England Emergency Response funds via the The National Lottery, we are able to have new incredible professionals join the team.
Mary Cork – Creative Development and Programme Consultant
“ Though it can be an incredibly joyous and creative time in one’s life, the impact of motherhood on career development in the arts is undeniable. This is something that has affected me personally. Procreate Project is doing important work to create innovative programmes that support contemporary artists who are also mothers and I’m delighted to join the team to help them with delivering their mission to effect systemic change in the arts, cementing a much needed place for the topic of motherhood in current arts discourse.” – Mary Cork
Mary Cork has over 15 years of experience in both not-for-profit and commercial contemporary art. Her previous work has included developing, curating and delivering visual arts projects, and supporting arts organisations such as The British Council, More Than Ponies, Block Universe, Whitstable Biennale, Open School East, Auto Italia and Studio Voltaire.
Until January 2020, Mary was Head of Development at Wysing Arts Centre, and before that Director at both Pilar Corrias Gallery (2016–18) and The Approach (2011–16). She has lectured on BA Culture, Criticism, and Curation at Central Saint Martin’s and BA Fine Art at Arts University Bournemouth, amongst others, working with students through curating and professional development workshops, seminars and lectures. Mary holds an MFA in Curating from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Bianca Chu – Sales Development and Strategy Consultant
“I am delighted to be joining the Procreate Project team as sales development and strategy consultant. Procreate Project’s ethos and its work supporting artists who are mothers is urgent and important, now during these difficult times but also, always. As a woman in the art world, having worked in the art business for almost a decade, the imbalance and invisibility of women artists, in particular those who are also care-giving, deserves our attention and action. I look forward to working with Dyana, Paola and Mary on cultivating and growing the network of collectors and supporters of PCP and its artists, and being part of the team of this ambitious and multi-faceted organisation.” – Bianca Chu
Bianca is an independent curator and art consultant based in London. Previously the deputy director of S2 Gallery, the exhibition arm of Sotheby’s, Bianca curated and produced an extensive programme of exhibitions and publications, focusing on artists often perceived as on the margins of art history, aiming to grow their visibility on the secondary market through collaboration with galleries, artists, estates and institutions. Prior to Sotheby’s, Bianca was the Head of the First Open London auction and the post-war and contemporary department at Christie’s South Kensington. She is a member of the Ambassador committee for the Tate Young Patrons and advisor to the Kim Lim Estate.
We will be working with Mary and Bianca on:
– Reviewing and expand the support we offer to artists in our community
– Review our business plan which is subject to fundamental changes due to the COVID-19 crisis
– Work on organizational development activities and strategies to strengthen its longer-term sustainability and widen its social and cultural impact
– Pay artists to produce new work for a total of 10 commissions
– increase our online presence and grow the art sales and network for our online gallery/shop. Via this platform we will be supporting and featuring up to 40 artists
– secure the optimal strategic direction for the organisation
– implement and grow existing and new platforms
