About Us

Our Vision:

Nationwide access to appropriate artistic stimulation that enables all people affected by dementia to live more fulfilled, active lives, at home and in the community

Our Mission:

In collaboration with artists and cultural organisations we support, promote and deliver inspiring arts activities for people living with the early stages of dementia

Meet Our Team

Penny Fosten, Chief Executive

Penny has more than 20 years of experience in the charity sector and has been CEO of Arts 4 Dementia since 2022. Previous roles include: Executive Lead for the National Suicide Prevention Alliance, a membership body for charities, local government, NHS and businesses working to reduce levels of suicide and self-harm; and London Manager for The Reader, establishing their ‘reading for well-being’ programme in London, with a focus on reducing loneliness, building confidence and connection, and enhancing people’s understanding of themselves and others. She learned to love poetry while running reading groups and saw first-hand the value of holding creative spaces that can help people flourish.

Roberta Mazur, Development Manager

Roberta joined the A4D team as Development Manager in 2020. Having spent nine years owning and operating an Indigenous art gallery in Australia, she has a vast range of experience within the art industry, from gallery management, developing workshops and exhibitions, to maintaining close connections with artists and patrons worldwide. A personal and significant understanding of dementia and the A4D charity led her desire to join the team, with her late father having attended the ceramics workshops at the Garden Museum in 2017. This experience enabled Roberta to witness the benefit of artistic cognitive stimulation firsthand and she wishes to utilise this valuable experience along with her knowledge of the arts, to champion A4D in all areas.

Emily Taylor, Outreach and Communications Manager

Emily is a Fine Art graduate who joined the team following her work in gallery operations at the Tate Gallery.  Here she gained experience in public programming, customer service and administration which she now uses to help develop and deliver programmes for A4D.  As an artist, Emily exhibited at numerous galleries including Aspex Gallery Portsmouth and Solent Showcase Gallery.  With a keen interest in community programmes, Emily was motivated to work for an art charity where she continues to use her artistic practice to deliver a weekly arts workshop for people with dementia and their companions.

Nigel Franklin, Associate

Nigel was a founding A4D Trustee in 2011, creating the website and responsible for the charity’s marketing activities, bringing extensive marketing and business experience of growing young companies in technology and Internet-related activities, including early dotcom auction site QXL. In 2015 he resigned as Trustee and was appointed Chief Executive, a post he held until February 2022. Nigel has a BA in Engineering Science from Oxford University and an MBA from London Business School. He says “I have hugely enjoyed my six years leading A4D, working with our extraordinary founder, colleagues, workshop partners and most of all, our inspirational participants who make this work so exhilarating.  I am delighted to hand over the baton to Penny and look forward to supporting her and the team as she brings new energy and ideas to the Charity.”

Sharon Frankland Fundraising Manager

Sharon joined Arts 4 Dementia as Fundraising Manager in 2023. She has extensive experience of fundraising in a wide range of charities and not for profits, where her focus has been on establishing good relationships predominantly with Trusts and Foundations. Sharon is particularly interested in the arts which she has studied and practiced for many years.

Christina Armstrong, Charity Administrator

Christina is a Masters graduate in Fine Art and has been working in the field of community arts for many years. She has a particular passion for how the arts can help people with dementia and for the last three years has set up and been co-director of a not-for-profit arts organisation called Open Art Box CIC. Within this role she has gained a wealth of experience, establishing a programme of art workshops in her local area, facilitating regular workshops for people living with dementia and their companions, as well as developing the wide range of admin skills needed in running a small business. She is delighted to join the team at A4D, an organisation she has especially admired and championed since she first got to know about their work, as a participant of their Artist Facilitator training for Early-Stage Dementia in 2017.  Her role at A4D enables her to continue to use and develop her skills, knowledge and experience in an area that she feels incredibly passionate about.

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