The Sayle Gallery, the Isle of Man’s prestigious contemporary art gallery, has appointed Barbara Quilliam as its new Manager.
Barbara – Babs to her friends – brings considerable expertise in both the creative arts and administration to complement the Sayle’s active Board of Directors, and its mainly volunteer staff.
“I am delighted to have been appointed to the role at what is a very exciting time for the Sayle Gallery, and for the Island’s creative arts scene,” says Barbara. “My long standing interest in the rapidly growing arts life here has involved me in theatre with Peel Pantaloons and the Legion Players, film production with internationally recognised Isle of Man short film producers MannIN Shorts, and I am really looking forward to working with many of the Island’s leading visual artists here at the Sayle.”
Barbara's previous work experience also includes event management with Legends in Peel, the Isle of Man Cruise Club and on the first Peel Bay Festival in 2008.
Her interest in visual arts began when she lived and worked in France in the late 1980's where she sold street art for an artists’ collective in Lyon, in return for wine.
“That was a long time ago,” laughs Barbara, “but what I learnt then is something I practice to this day: that a friendly, approachable attitude goes a long way in this world!”
And it was this attitude was what appealed to the Sayle Gallery’s Directors:
“Barbara's application stood out,” says Chairman Damian Ciappelli. “Our Manager should be able to work with artists, customers, sponsors and the general public – whilst also juggling administration tasks, phone calls and emails. Barbara's experience and approach made her the ideal person for the job, and we are all really looking forward to working with her.”
Barbara, who started at the Sayle Gallery in mid July, has hit the ground running. Her first initiative is to encourage more volunteers to come forward to work at the Gallery with her.
“We have a small group of volunteers who come in on an ad-hoc basis to help in the shop, hang exhibitions and work at our previews,” says Babs. “I’d like to extend this to include other roles, and would encourage anyone with any skills – including IT, design and sales - however much, or little, time they have available, to give me a call on 674557, email me at saylegallery@manx.net or just call into the Sayle Gallery for a chat”.
“I want the Sayle Gallery to be the ‘go-to’ place for contemporary art,” Babs continues, “and much of this depends not only the outstanding quality of the work, but also the outstanding quality of the people who work here – and that could be you!”
Photo - Barbara Quilliam with ‘The Sugar Loaf’ by Paul Parker, one of the stand-out works in the Sayle Gallery’s recent ‘Coast’ exhibition.
