Inaugural cohort of Imogen Kinchin Fellowship leaders revealed

The Imogen Kinchin Fellowship has announced its inaugural cohort of eight emerging cultural leaders for 2026-27.

The funded 12-month leadership programme was established in memory of producer and executive director Imogen Kinchin, who died in March 2024 aged 44. It aims to support emerging cultural leaders through mentoring, funding and access to a network of figures from across the sector.

The inaugural fellows are:

• Aisha Zia, artistic director and co-CEO of Kali Theatre
• Alessandra Hồng Duyên Zavagno, outreach and partnerships producer at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
• Beccy D’Souza, artist development producer at Nottingham Playhouse
• Ben Alexander Anderson, creative and executive director of Lincoln Arts Centre and Barbican creative hub at the University of Lincoln
• Connor Allen, founder and CEO of LOYALTY Arts
• Franny Rafferty, senior producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth
• Kat Joyce, co-artistic director and co-CEO of Tangled Feet
• Vanessa Maria Mirza, artist, curator and founder-director of Dance Bridges.

Each Fellow receives a £3,000 bursary, one-to-one mentoring and access to a wider network of cultural leaders, as well as the support of the other members of the cohort. The fellowship launched on 24 September with an inaugural supper at partner venue Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings.

The eight mentors are Emma Brünjes, Jo Danvers, Georgia Gatti, Glenn Graham, James Grieve, Nia Janis, Nicholai La Barrie and James Mackenzie-Blackman.

Fellow Franny Rafferty said: “Being selected feels particularly special, as the fellowship recognises the legacy of someone whose brilliance and generosity blazed a trail. I’m excited to learn alongside the rest of this extraordinary cohort, with the space and support to imagine more boldly what my next chapter as a leader might look like.”

Fellow Kat Joyce said: “Opportunities like this are so rare – to focus on your leadership and to take the time to equip yourself properly for the challenges and opportunities, to think hard about how you show up and how you can most effectively make your contribution. It’s a formidable group of people who’ve been brought together to honour and continue the extraordinary energy and care which Imogen put out into the world.”

Brünjes, on behalf of the founding mentors of the Imogen Kinchin Fellowship, said: “We were in awe of the applications we received for the Fellowship – our industry is full of exceptional talent. The Fellows reflect that breadth, while sharing the qualities at the heart of the Fellowship: generosity, curiosity, ambition and a desire to make a difference.

“We came away from our launch supper completely invigorated by the energy, vision and ambition of the Fellows. Moments like that, a time to stop, talk properly and exchange ideas are rare, but so vital to the future of our creative industries.

“Imogen loved nothing more than a deep discussion about theatre over dinner. She would have relished this gathering and left feeling excited and full of hope for the future.”

The Fellowship is delivered in partnership with organisations that shaped Kinchin’s career, including Theatre Royal Plymouth, the National Theatre, Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, Playful Productions, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and New Adventures.

Its founding principles include empowerment rather than gatekeeping, cross-sector connection, access and fairness, and a two-way conversation about what future leaders need from the cultural sector.

The Fellowship will support between six and eight emerging cultural leaders each year, with no upper age limit.