Chair – Tony Gallienne

Tony Gallienne has a passion for the arts. He believes they are vital for our individual as well as our communal wellbeing. Not only does he have an interest in the arts but he is also experienced in running organisations. He is Chief Executive ofthe NP Group, and past chairman of both the Workers’ Educational Association and the Institute of Directors on the island. He is the author of the book Guernsey in the 21st Century.

Mark de Garis – Commissioner

As Chief Officer of the Culture and Leisure Department Mark is the Arts Commission’s link into government.

Catriona Stares – Chair of Film, Poetry and Prose sub-committee

Catriona Stares has a lifelong interest in the arts and film in particular. She is an active committee member of CineGuernsey, Guernsey’s award winning film society which she co- founded 6 years ago, acting over the years as both Chairperson and Vice-Chair. She chairs the Film, Prose and Poetry sub-Committee of the Arts Commission which has been responsible for a number of successful initiatives, including: Poems On The Buses, The Pens and Lens exhibition, Guernsey Voices, National Schools Film Week and National Theatre Live. The committee is currently working hard on a Literary Festival for Guernsey due to take place May 12-15 in 2011. Catriona taught modern languages for over 20 years to children and adults in the UK, Canada, France and Germany.

Eric Snell – Chair of Public Art sub-committee

Over the past 30 years Eric Snell has built up many contacts in the art world exhibiting
and lecturing internationally and on his return to Guernsey in the early 90’s he was
instrumental in setting up the Guernsey College of Further Education’s Art and Design
department based at Grange House. As the designer of the Liberation Monument,
co-founder of the International Artist in Residence Programme and recipient of the
Guiton Ambassador of the Year Award in 2005 for ‘View through to the other side of the
world’ project (realised in association with the Arts Council of England and the Institute
of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia). Eric Snell is totally committed to the formation of
the Guernsey Arts Commission and to the development of the arts on Guernsey.

Connie Helyar-Wilkinson – Chair of Fundraising sub-committee

Connie has spent much of the last twenty five years of her career in offshore banking and finance and more recently in private equity fund administration. Her earlier years were spent in various entrepreneurial projects one of which was Mill Street Picture Shop, which sold art and craft materials and paintings. This experience stood her in good stead for co-founding International Private Equity Services (“IPES”) which she did in 1998. She successfully sold the business last year to the management team and has reduced her role with the company. She is now using her creative and financial
networking skills to assist the GAC in its fundraising. She is an ACIB and a
Chartered Director and is married with one son.

Mike Bane – Finance Commissioner

Russ Fossey – Chair of Music sub-committee

The Managing Director of Quayside Home & Leisure, Russ has played the drums since his early teens (over 30 years!) and currently plays with the Usual Suspects. Russ has found throughout his life that the enjoyment of music and particularly playing  with other musicians has given him immense pleasure, not only in developing playing skills, but also in building many long term friendships and developing life skills including. Recognising the immense number of talented musicians in Guernsey playing a wide genre of music, Russ is proud to be involved in the promotion and
celebration of this talent.

Mary Carey – Chair of Performing Arts sub-committee

Tamara Menteshvili – Development Commissioner

Graham Daldry – Chair of the Creative Industries Forum

Graham Daldry is Creative Director at Specsavers Creative in Guernsey. Heading up the UK’s largest in house advertising agency, he has over 20 years experience of advertising and previously worked at Ogilvy and Mather in London. He has won industry awards for TV, press and posters throughout his career, most recently for Specsavers TV ad ‘Collie’, and was author of the famous ‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’ slogan.

Teresa Stoakes – Chair of the Community Arts sub-committee

Teresa Stoakes has embraced the arts from childhood, with the influence of her maternal grandfather, who is an artist, sculptor and formerly art teacher.  Dance is a particular passion; over the years Teresa has taken classes in ballet, Argentinean Tango, belly dancing and salsa – being a great believer in participation regardless of ability! This is a key aspect of the Community Arts Program.  During the last 23 years a career in the Fiduciary Industry in Guernsey and London with client relationship, marketing and business development roles have supported her although she has also pursued her love of dance, music, theatre, cinema, art and travel to bring balance. Travel within the rich cultures of South East Asia, South America and India brought opportunities for Teresa to observe the communities there and role of arts within them. As this is a new role, during 2012 she will draw on her experiences in business and whilst travelling with the aim of bringing together the business community in Guernsey to work with identified community projects as she believes the arts can harmonise communities giving everyone the opportunity to participate in the creative process

Laurie Morgan, born in London, has lived in Guernsey for forty years, for twenty five of which he worked in the financial services industry until he retired in 1993.  For nine years after retirement he was a non-executive director of his former employers’ international holding company and of its captive insurance company. Laurie was a member of the States Post Office Board from 1982 to 1988, when he was elected a Deputy for St Peter Port and later as a Conseiller. He was Chairman of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission from 1991 to 2003 and in 2004 he was elected the
Island’s first Chief Minister, a position he held until 2007.  Laurie did not stand for
re-election in 2008.

Mike O’Hara

Deputy Mike O’Hara recognises the important part the arts play across the entire age spectrum.  He is pleased that his appointment to Minister of Culture and Leisure has enabled him to take a pro-active role wherever and whenever he can to promote the arts within Guernsey, and beyond our shores. Mike has been a member of the States of Guernsey for almost 9 years being involved with Recreation, Education, Tourism and Commerce. Mike enjoys all aspects of the arts and in particular the
performing arts. His other hobbies include extreme sports and sea angling. Mike is
also Chairman of the Dyslexia Day Centre.