Meet Trisha McCauley, a visionary curator, artist educator, learning support and mentor, whose passion for the arts has illuminated the lives of countless individuals over the span of her 20+ year career.

Trisha chose Fiji as the starting point for the fantasy cultural year I created for her. I learnt a lot from her choices to the questions, it was wonderful meeting her. Expect some surprises.

Having served as the Director of Rosetta Arts, Trisha played a pivotal role in transforming the centre into a vibrant hub of creativity in East London. Under her leadership, Rosetta Arts became more than just a visual art centre — it became a sanctuary where individuals from all walks of life could explore their creativity and unlock their potential. From pottery studios, painting rooms to darkrooms and studios for photography, Trisha ensured that the centre offered a diverse range of facilities, courses and programs, reaching out to those who often have limited access to the arts and education.

Additionally, Trisha's entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish The Humble Gallery, a unique space dedicated to showcasing the works of emerging and mid-career artists. Through her efforts, Trisha provided a physical space for these artists to gain exposure and recognition through exhibitions and displays. The Humble Gallery also offers the artists and photographers opportunities for professional development and growth through mentorship.

Trisha's expertise extends far beyond the confines of traditional gallery spaces. As an experienced IQA assessor, she has played a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of various art qualifications, including NCFE, ArtAwards, City & Guilds, and Edexcel. Her skills as a teacher and facilitator are equally impressive, as she effortlessly navigates between teaching accredited and non-accredited courses to individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

A graduate of Sotheby's Institute of Art, Trisha has a commitment to making arts accessible to all. Her skills in curating, gallery management, art history, and curriculum development are matched only by her passion for fostering creativity and enriching communities through the power of art.

Trisha McCauley stands as a guiding light, inspiring others to embrace their artistic journey and celebrate the beauty of self-expression.

Trisha's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trisha-mccauley-40398794/

Mark Walmsley FRSA FCIM AGSM
Chief Culture Vulture
Arts & Culture Network
www.ArtsAndCultureNetwork.com
mark.walmsley@ArtsAndCultureNetwork.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbwalmsley/
 
Book a 15-minute 121 with me on Zoom:
https://calendly.com/mark-walmsley/mark-walmsley-acn
 
Join our future free networking events on Zoom:
https://www.artsandculturenetwork.com/ourevents
 
Arts and Culture Network LinkedIn group with 65,000 members
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2895827/
 
Arts administration group with 22,000 members
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2779726/
 
Opportunities, jobs and careers group with 8,600 members.
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4109471/
 
Contemporary art group with 8,700 members
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2722958/

Trisha McCauley - pioneering art curator and educator.

Grace Benham doesn’t just look at art — she listens to it. A curation assistant at a London art and design studio, she sees exhibitions as stories with rhythm and flow, like tracks on a playlist. For her, curation is about turning spaces into places where artworks, like voices, can be heard in harmony.

Storytelling is Grace’s superpower. In her interview with Arts and Culture Network founder Mark Walmsley, she spoke of giving artworks a voice, connecting the past to the present, and rewriting narratives that have long excluded women. One of her guiding influences is Katie Hessel’s The Story of Art Without Men, a book that echoes her commitment to championing overlooked female artists.

This passion has taken shape in a bold proposal: a global league table ranking countries on their recognition of female artists. Inspired by an Italian foundation, Grace suggested starting with Ireland, praising the National Gallery’s recent strides in showcasing women. For her, the project is like remixing the cultural canon — adjusting the mix so that women’s voices rise to the front.

Her Fantasy Cultural Year unfolded like a playlist of experiences:

Florence for Uffizi mornings and opera evenings.

Berlin for folk dance and experimental art.

Porto for Caravaggio reimagined through digital media.
And in London, a weekly rhythm of musicals, concerts, and opera — revisiting her own first tracks: Britten’s Young People’s Guide to the Orchestra and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Music remains central for Grace. She is drawn to female singer-songwriters who bring honesty and wit to their craft, with CMAT a current favourite. Her post-lockdown anthem? Hozier, whose soulful lyrics capture both intimacy and protest.

Grace’s personality carries a playful beat. In a rapid-fire “this or that” game, she came across as a coffee-loving, Mac-using, comedy fan who prefers reggae to rock, museums to malls, motorbikes to cars. These details give her a rhythm that is relatable and real.

Why does Grace belong on SoundCloud? Because her work is about amplifying unheard voices. She curates like a DJ, adjusting balance and tone, remixing the canon, and ensuring no voice is lost in silence. She is not just a curator of exhibitions but a curator of culture itself.

Grace Benham may be early in her career, but her vision is already striking: inclusive, imaginative, and deeply attuned to the sounds of history and change.

Listen closely. You’ll hear it: a new beat in the cultural conversation.

Mark Walmsley FRSA AGSM
✨ Chief of Stuff | Arts & Culture Network
🌐 https://www.artsandculturenetwork.com/
📩 mark.walmsley@ArtsAndCultureNetwork.com
🌍 175,000 | Global | Growing

P.S. Stay in the loop for updates & member news:
📰 Subscribe to our Museletter: https://www.artsandculturenetwork.com/museletter

New tracks tagged #art curation