After almost 10 years of directing organisations, and following an exciting re-model for Deveron Projects,
I stepped down from my role to work independently.
Head of Programmes (Maternity Cover),
a-n The Artists Information Company
June 2025-present
As Head of Programmes, I assist in steering and securing a-n’s future in line with the company’s vision and offer to be the artists’ advocate and empower artists to thrive. In my role, I' am responsible for developing relevant opportunities for a-n’s members, implementing, delivering and evaluating core programmes, contributing to a-n’s advocacy work, commissioning research, and curating and enlivening the archive for the benefit of artists and the wider visual arts sector.
I work within the senior management team, responsible for staff development and promoting an engaged and positive workplace culture, ensuring best practice and the highest possible standards in all areas of activity. Working with a fantastic team, I lead a-n Artists Council and oversee the communications and marketing functions for the company.
Independent Curator/Producer
2024-2025
Current projects include Delineate, an artists book project co-produced with Tiffany Boyle and Kayus Bankole, featuring new work by Alberta Whittle, Tabita Rezaire, Swapnaa Tamhane, and others, funded by Edinburgh City Council, Canada House & Fluxus. Art works respond to links between colonial-era cotton, linen, jute and paper trade in/through/via Scotland.
Freelance work includes:
+ Project development for a new Many Studios site: Cumberland Street Station, developing a listed, heritage building in Glasgow’s southside to realise a new multi-arts venue.
+ Organisational development and production support for Street Level Photoworks. This role includes production on a UK-wide project in partnership with Impressions Gallery (Bradford), Ffotogallery (Cardiff), Belfast Exposed (Belfast) and Street Level Photoworks (Glasgow) for Bradford 2025, City of Culture. Nationhood: Memory and Hope is a major commission with internationally renowned artist Aïda Muluneh and eight local photographers across all cities and will result in a 4-city touring exhibition in 2025. In Glasgow, commissioned artists are Miriam Ali and Haneen Hadiy.
+ Curatorial and directorial support at Villa Lena Foundation (Tuscany, Italy), guiding the organisational through a transition to a new organisational structure in 2025: developing new frameworks for artistic residencies; strategic programme partnerships; and informing a refreshed staff structure for the foundation.
+ Fundraising support for Deveron Projects’ (Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding application, awarded £500,000 from 2025-28)
+ Consultancy on organisation and programme development for Architecture Fringe (informing Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding award of £500,000 from 2025-28).
+ Consultancy and facilitation for Creative Stirling to develop a new Forth Valley Creative Economy Network.
Alongside consultancy work, I've shared practice on various platforms, including Glasgow School of Art, University of Edinburgh and Groundswell - Engage's annual conference on leading visual arts practice. Lectures and seminars have covered place-making, good practice in community engagement, policy-making, and EDI and access within the arts.
Director,
Deveron Projects
2021-2024
Head to the bottom of page for documentation on projects.
Responsible for both the artistic vision and the management of the organisation at all levels: curating and producing an international art programme in Scotland and wider; creating budgets and and overseeing day-to-day and annual accounts; fundraising and developing fundraising and income generation strategies; board management,m developing innovative engagement, outreach and evaluation methods; line management & recruitment; networking and international partnership working; generating new research; capital development, buildings management; develop and monitor policies for good practice in our sector and advocating for the organisation and wider sector at Government level.
Achievements include:
Consistently fundraised and managed complex budgets for over £600,000 of public funding per annum.
Managed 8-10 projects annually, running concurrently with complex structures, independent budgets and partnerships; working with approximately 14 lead artists a year.
Developed new, long-term strategic partnerships with Mondriaan Fund, The National Gallery and Up Projects.
Led on the organisation's first capital development project, introducing a custom-designed artist's accommodation and workspace and a public-facing creative and community hub.
Developed and overseen strategy for the development of a new public facing hub, now a thriving community spaces used by over 60 community groups locally and generating significant new income for the organisation.
maintained and nurtured and renewed key relationships including Creative Scotland as part of Creative Scotland's Regularly Funded Organisations portfolio and Aberdeenshire Council, providing integral accommodation and office space.
My directorship has been marked by the development of innovative visual art practice; the development and implementation of fair work strategies for artists, partners, communities, and staff; and the design and facilitation of a new leadership model, introducing a co-directorship that signifies a less hierarchical structure and provides career progression for existing staff. This work has been done through a new, collaborative way of working at Deveron Projects, working with the team and our partners to create better practices focused on wellbeing and on the longterm sustainability of the organisation.
Partners included: Christine Borland, Irineu Destourelles, Januario Jano, Fionn Duffy, The National Gallery, Edinburgh Art Festival, Mondrian Fund, Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, University of Edinburgh, British Council, Tate, Deptford X, Up Projects, Grays School of Art, Scotrail, Historic Environment Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland.
Co-founder of Many Studios, a creative hub in the city centre of Glasgow. From 2012-15, Many Studios operated with a voluntary-run directorship of 4 people. We managed the organisation whilst undertaking our own, full-time practices. In Dec 2015, I moved into a full-time role as Managing Director (2015-21), overseeing a capital project in partnership with Glasgow City Council and a private landlord, and then leading the organisation through a notable period of creative and business growth. In this role, I was responsible for both the artistic vision (The Gallow Gate) and the management of the organisation, facilitating its growth and impact continually felt today in Glasgow. The building now hosts over 70 studio members, from artists, designers to architects and software engineers. The building also operates an open-source event space and has held an international consultancy practice with partners including British Council, Creative Scotland and Glasgow City Council.
Partners included: Ndidi Dike, Larry Achiampong, Raisa Kabir, Imani Mason Jordon, Alberta Whittle, Swapnaa Tamhane, Camara Taylor, Arpita Shah, Lindiwe Matshikiza and João Renato Orecchia Zúñiga, Glasgow International, Engage, A-N, Glasgow City Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, European Creative Hubs Network, Scottish Contemporary Art Network, Engage, Glasgow School of Art, Centre for Contemporary Arts, Creative Scotland, British Council, Hope Scott Trust, The African Arts Trust, and many more.
Managing Director/Curator
Many Studios
2015-2021
Head to Many Studios for more information on this organisation.
Festival Director (2013), Manager (2014) & Programmer (2010, 2011, 2012),
Africa in Motion Film Festival
Curating, conceiving, developing and implementing the artistic programme of the festival. Duties included fundraising and reporting on public funding; developing sponsorship and strategic partnerships; hiring and managing sessional staff; monitoring and evaluating our practice and projects; conceiving and implimenting marketing and PR strategies; film programming; project management; educational outreach; advocating for the festival in African film academic and professional circles.
I began working with Africa in Motion at the end of my Masters degree in Film at University of Glasgow where my research was focused on West African cinema from 1960s and film festivals as a mode of distribution. This research was the grounding for programming, working with filmmakers from across the African continent, screening both seminal films and contemporary films alongside critical conversations and seminars during the festival and across the year. Research during this time would form long-term partnerships for The Gallow Gate programme later.
It was during my management of the organisation that we introduced a Glasgow edition of the festival, developing new partnerships with Glasgow Film theatre, CCA Glasgow and many others.
Administrator,
Wasps Artists Studios
2013-2015
Coordinating the daily operations of South Block, one of Wasps Artists Studios 19 creative workspaces, and co-curating an annual arts programme of exhibitions and events focused on design discourse and design innovation. Exhibitions included international showcases of work by Elliot Tupac (Peru) and Modise Blackdice (South Africa), alongside Scottish designers Lateral North, Dress for the Weather, and many more. In this role, we supported over 150 creatives across 100 workspaces, providing quality workspace, responsive service and professional development.
Independent Curator/Producer
2005-2018
Consultant, Hospitalfield (Arbroath, Scotland): Undertaking consultancy to engage a wider, more diverse applicant pool for BellRock Residency, a partnership between Creative Scotland, Three Rivers Film; and Hospitalfield.
Curator with Mother Tongue, Rum Retort (Scotland and Barbados): Rum Retort brought together the work of 10 artists based in the Caribbean and Scotland. The exhibition re-traced and activated the connections between Greenock, Scotland and the Caribbean, sited in the town’s former Tobacco Warehouse. Artists included Alberta Whittle, Graham Fagen, Annalee Davis, Camara Taylor.
Curator, Curating Conversations (JHB, South Africa): Artist residency and public programme with artists Anthea Moys (South Africa), Dean Hutton (South Africa), and Lindiwe Matshikiza (South Africa) at Ithuba Arts Gallery in Johannesburg.
Producer, The Power of ZA (Scotland and South Africa): The Power of ZA was a Connect ZA/World Design Capital
Cape Town 2014 project produced by Natalia Palombo and Glasgow-based creative studio, Pidgin Perfect (New Practice), producing a film and public talks programme in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Glasgow.
Founder/Curator, The Telfer Gallery (Glasgow, Scotland): Founder and freelance curator of visual art projects and exhibitions for a city centre contemporary art gallery. Projects: Colour Deaf with Sisi Lv and Kayus Bankole; Garba by Jen Allison; we end up always using the same things by Federico Del Vecchio; AS01 by Analogue Social; a Billow, a Hunch by Emily Shepherd (Furneaux).
Music Programmer (The Blitzkrieg Bop), The Arches (inhouse), The Art School, Oran Mor: In 2005, I founded a monthly music event initially for Oxfam Music in Glasgow, transferred to The Arches as a resident club-night showcasing local and international musicians and DJs.
Education
2010 - 2011, University of Glasgow
MLitt Film and Television
2006 - 2010, Glasgow School of Art
BDes (Hons) Visual Communication, Graphic Design
Voluntary Roles
Trustee, Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), Glasgow. July 2024 - June 2025
Advisor, Refugee Festival Scotland
(Scottish Refugee Council). 2022 - present
Memberships
British Art Network, Scottish Contemporary Art Network (organisation); Engage, A-N The Artists Information Company; Association of Women in the Arts.
Deveron Projects
I directed Deveron Projects from 2021-2024. My directorship was marked by transition, taking the organisation into a new phase following founding director, Claudia Zeiske’s 25-year directorship. Claudia had established a trailblazing socially engaged art organisation in a rural market town in North East Scotland, setting the ground for a refreshed vision and ambition for Deveron Projects into the future. In this time, I worked with the team to embed values of fair work, social justice and collaboration, with a renewed sense of internationism and ground-breaking contemporary art practice. We increased the core team, introduced long-term residencies (6-24 months), developed new international partnerships, and opened Square Deal, the organisation’s first building and a new community hub for Huntly.
From the team and Board at Deveron Projects:
Natalia arrived in Huntly at the start of 2021, since when she has led Deveron Projects on an extraordinary journey that has seen the organisation transformed in many ways.
Natalia's directorship immediately took on the ambitious capital development of Square Deal, upgrading an empty building to state of the art artist studio/accommodation and a bustling community hub in the heart of Huntly’s town centre. Her artistic programme extended residencies to work with artists from all over Scotland and around the globe for longer periods of time, enriching the local cultural landscape with new artwork, public events and knowledge exchange. Deveron Projects is also now a leading Fair Work employer, following Natalia’s overhaul of our approach to paying artists and staff. She has personally invested much time into building positive new partnerships for Deveron Projects around the world and across Scotland, as well as locally within Huntly.
Underpinning all of this work has been Natalia’s passionate commitment to making art that addresses urgent social, cultural and political issues, with a particular focus on the wellbeing of Deveron Projects’ local communities and staff. Collaboration has been a keynote of Natalia’s distinctive leadership here, which over time has led to her single director-curator role being split into a new co-leadership model – a gradual shift which Natalia crafted with characteristic care and humility.
Thank you Natalia, for all of your wonderful work. You leave behind an organisation and many friends who are greatly changed by your time here.
A note from Yunior Aguiar, chair of the Deveron Projects board until 2022
"Having Natalia as the organisation's director for the past three and a half years has been amazing, we couldn't hope for a better person to continue building on the legacy of Deveron Project. Natalia and the team have reviewed the working methodologies and enhanced them exponentially. Seeing the team fostering and nurturing a culture of cooperation, respect, innovation and collaboration has been a fantastic testament to her amazing leadership. It is inspiring to see how Natalia and the team are constantly thinking about what is best for the town, its community and how to make Deveron Project a sustainable organisation, trailblazing good practices within the arts and culture landscape of Scotland and the world."
And from Alan Macpherson, Chair of Deveron Projects board from 2022:
"What a pleasure it has been having the opportunity to work with Natalia! If I was to choose three words (only three?) to describe her directorship of Deveron Projects, they would be professionalism, sincerity and generosity. These qualities combine in the way Natalia led the slow, careful reinvigoration of the organisation, what it seeks to achieve and how it does this. They are evident throughout her leadership of the team, how she works with artists and art workers, and the communities of Huntly and elsewhere, local and international. Perhaps above all, I see these attributes in the way Natalia has handled her transition away from Deveron and the spirit in which she recognised equally vital qualities in Jenny, Matthew and Misa and helped them, and us, to reshape the organisation in a thoughtful, collaborative, future-oriented way. So, thank you, Natalia, for your professionalism, sincerity, generosity, and all that you have brought to Deveron Projects."
Deveron Projects AGM 2023. Natalia Palombo, Sarah Forrest, Jenny Salmean serving bags of chips.
Mutual Affinities network meet-up, hosted by Deveron Projects in Huntly, June 2022
Artist Januario Jano in the new Artists Workspace and Accommodation facilities at Square Deal, Huntly, during the project ‘Sonic Border’, September 2022.
The World is Ours, In Spite of All, by Hussein Mitha Manifesto unveiling with the Huntly Youth Climate Warriors on Huntly Town Square, September 2022. Photograph by Alexander Hoyles
Paradise Now, a climate justice handbook for young people, part of Hussein Mitha’s project, The World is Ours, in Spite of all, featuring work by Alison Scott; Anam Raheem; Emilia Beatriz, Fen Gabrysch, Heather Macdonald and Timespan Youth Club International; The Huntly Youth Climate Warriors; Jade Montserrat; Joycelyn Longdon; Lola Olufemi; Rachel Walker; Rob Bidder; Sakiya and Those Who Possess Dirt. Available online: Download Paradise Now.
From Glistening, a workshop led by Those Who Possess Dirt as part of Hussein Mitha’s project, The World is Ours, In spite of All.
Town Collection artwork, Stone for Eternal Lovers from Different Worlds, 2022, by Irineu Destourelles. The sculpture was carved by Aberdeen-based artist Yvette Bathgate.
Smelling workshop by Clara Weale for Irineu Destourelles’ project, Does it Fall From the Skies Above?, March 2022.
Irineu Destourelles filming ‘Monsters Walk in Ten Chapters’, May 2023.
Liberatha Alibalio, spinning outside Huntly Library as part of ‘The Museum of Embodied Knowledge, September 2023.
Christine Borland at Huntly Hairst, as part of the Flax Project (2019 - 2022)
Christine Borland with collaborators Daisy Williamson and Lynne Hocking as part of the Flax project.
Christine Borland performing ‘The Distaff Dialogues;, a performance commissioned by Deveron Projects as part of Flax. September 2022, OAP Hall, Huntly.
Caroline Wendling during a public pour at Scottish Sculpture Workshop as part of the White Wood project (2016 - present), working with communities to create 47 bronze waymarkets, installed between Huntly Train Station and the White Wood, Bin Forrest in 2023.
Caroline Wendling and Historic Environment Scotland installing a bronze waymarker at Huntly Castle.
The White Wood Care Team and other community members re-planting the Weeping Willow Tree, as part of Clemens Wilhelm’s project Weeping Willow Tree (2018 - present)
Sarah Forrest and Virginia Hutchison (Shadow of the Hand) preparing an aluminium pour on Huntly Town Square as part of TV Dinners project, Oct 2022. Photograph by Ruth Mitchell.
Participant holds a Chip Tray at TV Dinners’ film club, October 2022. Photograph by Ruth Mitchell.
Final exhibition and screening of a short film montage of footage collected through the project and projected on the new silver screen, at the Artists’ House, as part of TV Dinners, May 2023.
The Gathering Table with TV Dinners, The Gathering Table TV Dinner, February 2023 with Kawther Luay, Sarah Forrest, Virginia Hutchison and Luke Collins.
The Gathering Table in Three Acts, Act I: Milk, Tap o’ Noth Farm, with Kawther Luay and Fionn Duffy, May 2023. Photograph by Phoebe McBride.
The Gathering Table in Three Acts, Act I: Milk, Tap o’ Noth Farm, with Kawther Luay and Fionn Duffy, May 2023. Photograph by Phoebe McBride.
The Gathering Table in Three Acts, Act 2: Grain, Old Smiddy bothy, Cabrach, June 2023. Photograph by Jassy Earl.
The Gathering Table in Three Acts, Act 3: Clay, Greenmyres Farm, with Kawther Luay and Fionn Duffy, July 2023. Photograph by Jassy Earl
Home Programme (Farmers Market intervention)
The Gathering Table Publication, designed by Tom Joyes, available from Deveron Projects.