Kirsten Lavers
Kirsten’s art practise over the years has been wide ranging, often involving collaboration with other artists or multiple participants; an event, a performance, a magazine, a drawing, an installation, a radio station, or the formation of a community group. She has worked extensively as a curator and public art project manager, teaching in higher education and with marginalised groups including homeless people. Kirsten joined QAN Trustees in 2025. She is also Warden of Jesus Lane, Cambridge Quaker Meeting and an End of Life Doula.
Kirsten believes that, in the spirit of 'that of god in everyone’, all human beings have innate potential for creativity which can find its expression in many, many wonderful ways. She hopes that QAN will continue to grow and flourish as a network of support and inspiration for all aspects of Quaker faith in action. https://www.kirstenlavers.net/
Sean Jacke
Sean is a lifelong maker and designer. His work spans and combines different physical, digital and visual media. He endeavors to exercise his creativity towards building community and in pursuit of beauty, integrity, truth and simplicity. The wonder and delight he experiences in creative practice, along with giving service, living adventurously and communing with the natural world, are the wellsprings of his faith. Sean began attending Quaker Meeting after moving to London in 2020, currently serving as Clerk of Hampstead Local Meeting and on Quaker Life Central Committee. He has been a trustee of the Quaker Arts Network since 2023.
Amanda Jones (she/her)
Amanda enjoys writing as a published author including poetry, art and painting, crafts and is a musician, playing piano, harp and baritone ukulele. She composes some songs including this one about living with disability and respiratory disease.
Working as a patient representative and inclusion advocate Amanda weaves connections across the country and beyond including creativity as an essential element. Being a Trustee brings her a joyful place in the world of Friends to share, create and support each other.
Josiane Smith, Co-Clerk (she/they)
“I am a learning designer, facilitator and poet based in London, UK. My poems have been published in two international anthologies and I most recently co-edited Magma 89: the performance issue. I write regularly for British and international press on philanthropy, social change and the arts and am currently completing a PhD at Woodbrooke on Quakers and the abolition of slavery. I am enjoying being a Trustee of a Quaker charity, exploring how to weave Quaker values with environmental and racial justice.”
David Curtis, Co-Clerk (he/they)
Musician, Woodbrooke tutor, storyteller, and builder of labyrinths. As a clerk of Quaker Arts Network, David believes in the symbiotic partnership of creativity and spirituality. And as a facilitator, he seeks to hold a non-hierarchical space for all the different voices and perspectives in the room.
“I really enjoy the friendships and teamwork in QAN, what a wonderful group of people to be working alongside! I believe in the power of artistic expression to disrupt the status quo and to facilitate transformation in us as individuals and as a society."
Cherry Simpkin
Cherry has been a Trustee and Treasurer of QAN since 2022. She is also a Trustee of several other Quaker and non-Quaker charities, including the Quaker retreat centre, Claridge House, the Friends Fellowship of Healing and the South London Botanical Institute, and is currently Treasurer of Blackheath Local Meeting.
She is interested in the healing ministry, the arts and the natural world and, in particular, their relationship to spirituality. She enjoys writing poetry and doing creative embroidery. As a trustee of QAN, she enjoys the companionship of those with like mind and the opportunity it brings to promote the arts among Quakers and encourage others in their creativity.
Andy O'Hanlon (he/they)
A community artist, maker, performer and graduate of the Curious School of Puppetry, Andy became a Quaker in 2011, and has since served in Outreach for Quaker Life; as co-convenor of Turning the Tide with QPSW; a Meeting House Warden at Westminster and more recently Winchester. Now in receipt of a lifetime revenue grant (a pension) he has begun to weave certain stories and songs, long since buried in the dark and dusty corners of his studio (the garage). Who knows what wonders (scandal) will emerge?
A QAN Trustee since 2024, he is also on the board of the Winchester Poetry Festival. He became a member of the Book of Discipline Revision Committee in 2026.
Becoming a QAN Trustee
Our Mission
We are delighted you are considering joining the Quaker Arts Network (QAN) as a voluntary Trustee! QAN is a registered charity and arts organisation that connects Quaker artists, providing a programme of activities aimed at encouraging the use of the arts for Quaker spiritual nurture, witness and outreach. By joining the Board, you would play a vital role in ensuring we carry this mission forward.
Joining the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees holds legal responsibility for making sure that we comply with our obligations to the Charity Commission, and are as such accountable for the general management of QAN and responsible for the direction of our affairs. Trustees meet quarterly to determine all major policies and activities in line with our charitable objectives. Trustees focus primarily on the charity's strategic planning, ensuring adequate financial resources, and providing effective fiscal oversight. This involves approving the annual financial statement, supporting and/or leading some of our programmes and services, maintaining our website, database and communications, and overseeing the annual reporting process to the membership and the Charity Commission.
We anticipate up to between 5-10 hours per month, but some flexibility may be required during key moments in the calendar, such as Trustee Meetings or outreach events.
Our Trustees
As a Trustee, your personal attributes are crucial to our culture as QAN. We look for individuals with a genuine commitment to our objectives, who feel aligned with Quaker values. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as a team member is essential. An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship is also essential. If you are interested in learning more, we encourage you to email us below with more information about yourself and some of your availability for a call.
Please email us on quakerartsuk@gmail.com and one of the Clerks will get back to you in due time. We are hoping to bring nominations to our September Trustee Meeting and invite three new Trustees into appointment by the end of 2026.