Alchemy

Nima Poovaya-Smith is the founding Director of Alchemy and she took up her post in april 2004.
Nima was Head of Special Projects at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, Bradford until April 2004. Previously, as Director of Arts at Yorkshire Arts (now Arts Council, Yorkshire) she project directed the extremely successful Year of the Artist campaign for Yorkshire and the Humber region in 2000 – 01. As Senior Keeper, International Arts at Bradford Art Galleries and Museums from 1986 –1997 she curated a number of nationally acclaimed historical and contemporary exhibitions relating to themes as varied as Women Artists of Pakistan and 101 Saris from India. She also set up the pioneering Transcultural Gallery, which houses the permanent international collections of Cartwright Hall. She has written and lectured extensively on the arts in a variety of national and international fora.

Valerie Booker is P.A. to the Director. She took up this post in April 2005 as part of a three-year secondment programme from Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency. Valerie’s various roles Yorkshire Forward included being part of the Yorkshire Futures team as well as P.A. to the Chair of Yorkshire Forward. Previously she worked for Government Office, Yorkshire and Humber region.