MEET THE TEAM
Philip Marken
Director
He/They/By Name
Owner and Founder of Open Source Arts, with 15+ yr experience working in the events industry at all levels, from litter picker to production manager and event producer. He started Open Source Arts to enable creative people in Leeds to develop their skills, find collaborations and realise their ambitions. He is passionate about spreading the ethos of making your own rather than buying it in, a belief born out of a varied career as a fabricator, producer and consultant. Whatever your project, he is excited to talk to you about how to take your great idea and turn it into reality! Please get in touch!
Email: phil@opensourcearts.co.uk
Myra Rowland
Operations Manager
She/Her
Myra joined the Open Source Arts team in autumn 2017, with a background working in Higher Education. Myra brings her organisational skills and enthusiasm for getting involved and helping great things happen to Open Source Arts. She is passionate about facilitating people and communities to realise, develop and use their power, wisdom and skills in a way which is socially just and full of heart. Myra works across all projects and activities at Open Source Arts, so if you would like to know more, get in touch with Myra!
Joe Ferguson
Circus Development Officer
He/Him
With over 10 years experience in circus skills and social circus projects, Joe has been with Open Source Arts since 2018 and has taken the lead on all things circus in the space and in the wider community. Overseeing community events run through Yorkshire Circus such as Fire Jam and Circus Open Training, as well as a variety of circus workshops and performances throughout Leeds, growing awareness of the circus community, create a platform for established and new circus artists to share and develop their skills and create the home for circus in Yorkshire.
Nat Watson
Aerial and Circus Instructor / Yoga Teacher
She/Her
Nat has been with Open Source Arts since September 2017. Having over 10 years’ experience in aerial arts and yoga, Nat leads, along with Joe Ferguson, our weekly circus training on a Tuesday evening. With a passion for all things upside down Nat runs aerial, yoga and handstand workshops at Open Source Arts and other venues across the region. A qualified Aerial instructor and Yoga teacher, she works with us on different stands to help build our growing circus and aerial projects.
Ben Deutsch
Administrator
He/Him/His
After almost two decades working in admin and communications roles in Leeds’ third sector, Ben joined the Open Source Arts team in Summer 2019, providing administrative support across the organisation’s projects and services. He brings extensive IT experience and know-how, as well as copy writing and editing skills and experience of organising and promoting events. He values OSA’s emphasis on creativity and authenticity in all aspects of their work, and hopes to extend that to the administrative realm. He has no doubt that spreadsheets are a form of poetry, poetry is a form of prayer, and prayer is a form of revolution.
Email: info@opensourcearts.co.uk
Thomas Tickner
Junior Content Producer
He/Him
Thomas Tickner (Or Tick 🙂 ) started an apprenticeship as a Junior Content Producer in November 2021. Tick has been working with Open Source Arts on and off in a voluntary capacity prior to this for a few years; staring off learning new skills in the fabrication workshop and also developing and facilitating illustration workshops. He is building on these skills, now learning and working on making and producing content, including the use of photography, live streaming and video editing for Open Source Arts events and media. Tom lives and breathes all things illustration, imagination and the creative process, always eager to add more possibility to his growing skillset.
Contact Us
Open Source Arts
Unit 1a Aire Place Mills
143 Kirkstall Road
LS3 1JL
01132 468 975
