Established in 2019 by former CEO and Creative Director, Tracy Gentles, STAF is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), through a Culture & Society Discretionary Award from Wellcome Trust, specifically to support the development of an inclusive and accessible arts community. We envision a world in which all people have meaningful connections to cultural experiences, with the voices and stories of under-represented and marginalised artists and communities at its centre.

Our mission is focused around four areas:

• Supporting the creative and organisational development of under- represented voices in culture.

• Informing and empowering marginalised communities, providing tools and resources to engage and connect through culture.

• Building bridges, connections, and value between and across the arts, learning, health, technology, and wellbeing sectors.

• Challenging and encouraging the cultural and creative sectors to address systemic issues and action positive change.

STAF’s Charitable Objectives are the advancement of the arts for the public benefit by promoting greater participation by groups who are under-represented in the arts field, particularly by reason of disability, ill health (mental or physical) or social or economic disadvantage. We envision a world in which all people have meaningful connections to cultural experiences, with the voices and stories of under-represented and marginalised artists and communities at its centre.

Since our inception, we have directly supported 187 artists and secured 13 ‘step change’ commissions, supporting artists to achieve a combined audience reach of 30,000+. During the COVID-19 pandemic, STAF supported artists to stabilise their operations, helping them to secure funds of £570,000+. To date, we have worked towards our goals by establishing bespoke artist’s support, strategic partnerships, and research, creating individual, organisational and systemic changes along the way. We have maintained a vibrant creative programme showcasing diverse artists, through STAF Live, our safe and accessible digital platform.

In 2021, the company consolidated its diverse leadership through the appointment of Janet Tam as Executive Director, and is headquartered in Tameside, Greater Manchester, from 2022 following several years of being based in Shoreditch Town Hall in London. The current team work remotely, and are based in Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

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