Personnel

Ruth Robinson
Director

Ruth Robinson has lived in Holloway since 1998 when she and several other local residents set up the Peter Pan Park Action Group. Having put on many events as part of their campaign to have the park regenerated (it was rebuilt in 2003 as Landseer Gardens), Rowan Arts grew out of this and became a registered charity in 2003. In 2005 Ruth received a Level 2 Award from UnLtd to develop Rowan Arts. Ruth completed a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy at University College Dublin, and moved to London in 1986 to do an MA in Social Psychology at the London School of Economics and Politics. She has since worked in social research on projects looking at drug user's recovery and the social and psychological causes of depression in women living in inner city London. She trained as a psychoanalyst at the Institute of Psychoanalysis, qualifying in 1995 and maintains a small private practice. Ruth has an interest in the potential of the arts to both regenerate a geographic area and make a difference to individuals' lives. 

Jamie Bamber 
Finance Officer
Associate Artist/Designer

Jamie has been working for Rowan Arts since 2009 and works across most of the organisation’s projects. He graduated from Wimbledon School of Art in 2008 with a degree in Fine Art and his personal interests lie in drawing, photography and oral history. Jamie sits on the St. Luke’s Centre Events Steering Group and is a member of the Reel Islington Management Committee.

Amy Smith
Press Officer

Amy was born and raised in Holloway. She began working as a volunteer press assistant for Rowan Arts in February 2010 and has been the press officer since October 2010. Amy is also working on press and marketing for film production company SquareboxYellow and Goulston Lincoln Marketing. Amy has an MA in Contemporary Curating from Manchester School of Art and is involved in the art-publishing project Empty Gallery Interviews. She has worked with young people with complex needs for 8 years and is a scout leader for the 12th Hackney Scout group.

Camille Acosta 
Assistant Project Manager

Originally hailing from Southern California, Camille completed her undergraduate degree in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh. She moved to Holloway in 2011 to pursue an MA in Arts and Heritage Management at London Metropolitan University. After completing a dissertation on learning and engagement in museums, she began working on exhibitions at The Women’s Library. Alongside her passion for heritage, she has long worked in theatre, first for the Troubadour Theatre Company in Los Angeles and later for the Edinburgh University Theatre Company, where she was a stage manager, producer and graphic designer and also served as the President. She has always been committed to making heritage and the arts accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Shiri Shalmy

Islington Exhibits Programme Curator

Shiri is a curator and programme manager with many years of experience developing and delivering innovative art and cultural projects in the public realm, working with a range of cultural organisations as well as developing independent art projects. Before joining Rowan Arts she managed the Art & Partnerships team at Shape (2012) and worked as Contemporary Art Curator and Programme Manager at Jewish Museum London (since 2009). In 2007-08 she was Artistic Director of gallery:space, an independent public art space in Finsbury Park, managing a programme of exhibitions, projects and events, working with established and emergent artists and curators as well as with local and international galleries, art organisations and social enterprises. Before, after and in between she worked on a wide range of public art initiative including festivals, regeneration projects, young people participation projects and research projects. More information is available on galleryspace.wordpress.com . She lives in Islington.