Arts 4 Dementia is a charitable company limited by guarantee, with a fine team helping to establish the development of artistic stimulation for people in the early stages of dementia, and their carers.

Our patrons and Advisory Panel are leaders in arts and health; our board of Trustees bring expertise in business, medicine, the law, public service, marketing, event and business management and experience as care giver participants in A4D and other arts workshops for people living with dementia.

Patrons

Advisory Panel

Trustees

Founder and President

Our Staff

Penny Fosten, Chief Executive

Penny has nearly 20 years’ experience in the charity sector.  As Executive Lead for the National Suicide Prevention Alliance she helped redefine their strategy and priorities, doubled their membership and engagement, and established a network of people with lived experience who are trained and supported to influence change in policy and practice.  She previously led The Reader’s work in London, establishing their ‘reading for well-being’ programme there, 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 first hand 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.”