OUR
STORY
BAP! was born out of a frustration that powerful people have a monopoly on imagination. We're building a movement of people who can change that.
What happens when culture isn't produced? What happens when it is organised instead? Inspired by the practice of community organising, cultural organising is an attempt to democratise the making of culture.
We have 3 departments which all tackle this from a different angle.
_Funds is our version of fundraising and organisational development consultancy, but we want to remove the professional class barriers that stop small organisations accessing it.
_Organises is our research, lobbying and training branch that tries to make our _Funds branch redundant because cultural organisers are able to work.
_Makes is how we put our money where out mouth is, we're funding and creating projects within a Cultural organising framework (as best we can).
OUR TEAM
TOM RYALLS
Tom is a fundraiser and writer. They were one of the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fellows with Cause4 in 2020, and part of the SSE Creative Leadership Programme for the last 2 years. They also sit on the London Area Council for Arts Council England, which is the governance body overseeing the distribution of funding in London. They have previously been the Head of Development for NPO Stockroom and an Executive Director. Tom has delivered bids in excess of £1M but their practice mainly revolves around supporting artists and small companies develop the organising skills to swing the balance of arts funding away from large institutions.
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ELLEN LARSON
ASSOCIATE ORGANISER (ACCESS)
Ellen is a freelance theatre-maker, producer and facilitator. As a producer she has worked for Paines Plough, Pink Sky, The Goat Exchange and is the founder of Moon House Theatre. Ellen is currently completing a masters degree in Theatre for Community and Education at Mountview.
For BAP!, Ellen is the Associate Organiser (Access). She specialises in improving structural processes for artists and organisations, looking at streamlining and integrating systems to ensure more accessible and cohesive management systems. This might look like assessing what platforms you already use and finding ways to utilise these, or integrating existing processes with other platforms. For example, Ellen developed Bap’s content management processes on Asana using integration with Google Workspace.
Improving workflows is rooted in a desire to make organisations more accessible, but also saves time and increases productivity. You can contact her by emailing Associate@WeAreBap.co.uk.
OLIVIA TETLOW
Olivia is a dedicated producer and support worker working across the UK with innovative artists and companies that centre inclusivity and wonder in the work they make. She is committed to making a change in the collaborative process between producer and artist and holding space to interrogate what best practice truly means in the creative sector. Her approach to all her work centres around accessibility and joy, exchanging knowledge, and lived experience to do so.
SUSIE ITALIANO
ASSOCIATE ORGANISER (FINANCE)
After a short career as a contemporary dancer, Susie realised that she was not meant to be on stage but rather belongs behind the scenes, where she can make things happen. After moving to London from Italy, she became pursued a career in finance and had the pleasure of working with companies such as Improbable, Park Theatre, and The Yard. She is now a Management Accountant for Adding Value, an accounting consultancy that helps social enterprises thrive. She also offers bespoke finance and accounting services to artists and small theatre companies, helping them to keep their books, and file end of year accounts. Susie is also a codirector of Pinecone Performance Lab, producing HOT (Helen of Troy) at The Cockpit in 2020. She recently managed to save up and buy a motorhome, where she, her husband, and her dog live a few months per year.
@susieitaliano on Twitter
PEOPLE WE'VE
ORGANISED WITH
"It’s so good to be facilitated by someone who clearly has rigorous approach and can calmly deliver the outcomes needed on time and with such an a light, inclusive and calm approach."
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COMPANY
OF
OTHERS
