Introducing Our New Chair & Team Members

We are incredibly excited to announce that Jane Bhoyroo is Transform’s incoming Chair. Jane is the Producer for Yorkshire Sculpture International (YSI), a unique partnership between Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Art Gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield and Yorkshire Sculpture Park – working together to celebrate Yorkshire as the home of sculpture in the UK.

Previously, Jane curated a major Joseph Beuys exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery, and was director of S1 Artspace, Sheffield, and sculpture curator for the Arts Council Collection. From 2004-2010 she was a Relationship Manager for Visual Arts at Arts Council England. Jane began her career in London in the mid-1990s at Matt’s Gallery and Anthony Reynolds Gallery, and studied on the international Curatorial Programme at De Appel in Amsterdam.

Jane takes up the reigns this summer, following the departure of founder Chair Sheena Wrigley. Under Sheena’s guidance Transform has rapidly developed a reputation for realising radical, international, inclusive performance and has realised a series of ambitious international festivals, productions and co-created projects. Sheena is stepping down in-line with Transform’s succession cycle and to focus on her new role for Manchester International Festival, as Venue Director for The Factory.

Transform’s outgoing Chair Sheena Wrigley said:

‘It has been an enormous privilege and a great adventure to be the Chair of Transform since its launch as a standalone festival in 2015.  The ambition for a fresh and creatively challenging festival for Leeds, which was locally rooted and with international outlook has been achieved. I am proud to have seen Transform bring exceptional artists to the city and create unique works with local and international talent.  There has been an exponential growth in partnerships fostered, collaborations forged and important foundations are now in place for the future.  I have appreciated the dedication and talents of the small staff team, led so dynamically by Amy Letman, and the wisdom and generosity of all the current and past trustees who have played such an important role in steering Transform to what is has become.

I am delighted to be handing over to Jane Bhoyroo.  Jane brings a multitude of skills and experience directly relevant to Transform.  Her work on building and sustaining creative partnerships will be invaluable, as will her knowledge of and commitment to the city and region.  Jane will bring a new energy and challenge to the company as it embarks on the next stage of its development.  I wish Jane, Amy and my fellow trustees great success for the future. It’s been a blast. Thank you!’

Transform’s incoming Chair Jane Bhoyroo said:

‘It is an immense privilege to be joining Transform as Chair to realise the vision of the dedicated team and trustees at a crucial moment in the development of this remarkable organisation. I’m incredibly excited to help shape the future for Transform and to build on the achievements of this radical and inclusive organisation who continue to reimagine what theatre can be. Transform is hugely respected for its commitment to supporting the next wave of extraordinary artists in the North, national and international partnerships and for innovative co-creation with young people. I look forward to supporting Transform in this work and the ambitious plans to embed their activity with communities and build towards the long-term future for Transform’s internationally renowned festival in Leeds.’

We are thrilled to be welcoming two new Producers to our team.

Lily Lavorato is taking on the role of Producer (Creative People) from this summer. This brand-new post has been shaped with the support of Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and will be responsible for supporting artists and creative people across the region and developing Transform’s approaches to artist development and co-creation. Lily is a producer and socially engaged artist based in Leeds. Driven by embedding well-being, access and care throughout her projects, Lily is passionate about working with people and the transformative affect that live art and culture can have on individuals and communities. She has previously worked for Yorkshire Sculpture International (YSI) as Programme and Marketing Coordinator and is co-founder of Party Mom Society (PMS). PMS create opportunities for togetherness, kinship and self-expression through community events that centre LGBTQIA+ performance art and question the established norms of how we experience culture.

Transform’s new Producer (Creative People) Lily Lavorato said:

‘The opportunity to nurture and support the next generation of creatives through my new role as Producer (Creative People) is an absolute honour, especially after such a challenging year for artists and young people. I can’t wait to join the team at Transform and get started.’

We are also thrilled to introduce our new Assistant Producer Jay Millard. A graduate of University of Leeds, Jay has gained experience with Art Night, Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and Edinburgh Playhouse. An active participant of the Leeds DIY performance scene, Jay was also previously involved with organising a series of queer club nights and visual arts events that brought together young people from across the city, celebrating the dynamism that typifies Leeds whilst also purposefully making visible the barriers that continue to affect participation in the arts.

Transform’s new Assistant Producer Jay Millard said:

‘I am incredibly excited to be joining the team at Transform. I am right at the beginning of my producing career, so having the opportunity to learn from those whose values align so closely with my own is an absolute privilege – not to mention the opportunity of being able to work in a city I so deeply care for!’

Transform’s Creative Director Amy Letman:

‘I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to attract such overwhelmingly brilliant people for these critical new roles. After the uncertainty of the last 18 months, I’m enormously grateful that Transform is in such a strong position, with an incoming Chair who is so fundamentally aligned with our vision and values, and a stellar producing team who are so brilliantly capable of nurturing and crafting extraordinary collaborations and projects. This is a new injection of energy for the festival at just the right time.’