our team
Programme Manager
Paola Bernardelli
Paola Bernardelli is an Italian lens-based artist and the initiator and co-founder of Art Arcadia. Based in Derry, Northern Ireland, Paola holds a Master of Fine Art from Ulster University, Belfast. Her artistic practice is firmly integrated into the arts community of the North-West of Ireland, where she contributes as both a visual artist and a programmer for Art Arcadia. Her dual roles—as a visual artist and the founder/programmer of Art Arcadia—are closely connected within the region’s arts ecosystem. In response to the continuing closure of art venues and significant reductions in public funding, Paola was motivated to establish a platform that financially supports artists and empowers them to advance their own practices, without constraints imposed by predetermined agendas set by funding bodies or curatorial panels. Paola identifies herself as a programmer rather than a curator, emphasizing her approach informed by her experience as an artist.
board of directors:
chair
Colomba Damiani
Colomba is a project and relations manager based in Central Italy working in international development cooperation. She is involved with high social impact programs, dealing with culture and new communities outreach, migration, global citizenship education, gender parity and equity. She has a diverse and multi-sectorial experience ranging from CRM to marketing and communication to AV production. Colomba has lived and worked in Ireland, Southern India, the Gulf Peninsula and West Africa. She has attended a number of international seminars and workshops on audio-visual production, distribution and emerging technologies both in Europe and USA. She has co-produced the multi award winning BBC feature length documentary Paradiso, directed by Alessandro Negrini with executive producer Margo Harkin. More recently she has managed and coordinated the first edition of UmbriaMiCo, an itinerant cultural festival in 8 cities and 3 regions in Italy, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), under the Education for Global Citizenship award.
treasurer
Gráinne Ketelaar
Gráinne Ketelaar has previously served as Board of Management member, and Treasurer, of Donegal Traveller Project for four years from 2019 to 2023, where she gained experience in the governance and oversight of publicly funded bodies. In her full time role as a Lecturer, primarily on the Health & Social Care degree programme in the Atlantic Technological University, Donegal, she has a role and responsibility in supporting the interpersonal and intellectual growth of professionals who will work in the Health & Social Care field. Gráinne has an interest in the arts, particularly in light of the important role that creativity, self-discovery and discovery processes can play in the therapeutic treatment and care of individuals from all walks of life, who might be struggling with or navigating personal challenges. As a multi-disciplinary researcher, she has a broad set of experiences and insights into the social and commercial determinants of health, addiction, community development, youth work; and a growing interest in sustainability and regenerative growth. Gráinne is a reviewer for a publication called Triple C: Communication, Capitalism & Critique, an active associate member of Social Care Ireland, a member of the Irish Association of Social Care Educators.
secretary
Cecelia Graham
Cecelia Graham is a curator who has several years experience working across artist-led spaces in the north of Ireland. Cecelia previously held the position of Chair of Catalyst Arts’ board, this role involved chairing regular meetings, liaising with ACNI, and implementing welfare improvements within the organisation. Cecelia currently works as Digital Programmes and Marketing coordinator at CCA Derry~Londonderry and has previously held a PR and Marketing position at Void Gallery. Cecelia also has experience of fundraising support having previously gained grants including Belfast City Council funding, Annual Funding programme (an uplift in Catalyst Arts’ funding for the year 22/23), Elephant Trust, Hope Scott foundation, Jerwood Arts. As Curator in Residence at PS2 in Belfast, she has curated several exhibitions and projects, which involved organising and being present at openings. Cecelia also has experience with arts admin across several organisations including Camberwell College of Arts, Catalyst Arts, Golden Thread Gallery, Void Gallery and PS2.
Board member
Eibhlín Morrison
Eibhlín Morrison is an artist from Derry. She graduated from Camberwell College of Art in 2021 where she studied Painting. In 2022 she moved home to Derry to continue her painting practice closer to the environment that has often been the subject of her paintings. Eibhlín has in the past worked as part of the Art Arcadia team as a freelancer.