Congratulations!

A huge congratulations to Jeanefer Jean-Charles, Vicki Amedume, Zoie Golding, Martin Wilson and Gurvinder Sandher who received their MBE’s this week during ceremonies at Windsor and Buckingham Palace. These are all good friends to our sector, important leaders in the wider cultural sector and well-deserved of national recognition.

Zoie Golding MBE

Zoie is an accomplished Artistic director, Producer, and Movement Director with 21 years of extensive experience in dance and the events sector across the UK and worldwide. Founder and Artistic Director of ZoieLogic Dance Theatre nationally acclaimed for effectively challenging the perceptions of dance, where and who dance is for, with a specialism of increasing men’s participation in dance. Creating shows, put on events and run awesome projects with communities, she specialises in bringing people together for exceptional and innovative experiences of dance. Her works is about taking risks, breaking down barriers and communicating ideas clearly and boldly. She is passionate and committed to creating significant social change.

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE

Jeanefer Jean-Charles MBE is a globally respected Creative Director and Producer with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in large-scale performances, opening ceremonies, stadium events, outdoor spectacles, carnivals, and parades. Her work has taken her to over 21 countries and has gone down in the Guinness Book of Records. Her unique creative process brings to life the talents, strengths, and shared stories of local communities and artists in inspiring and unforgettable ways.

As a leading authority in mass movement and public engagement, Jeanefer creatively harnesses dance and movement for the empowerment of individuals and is passionate about ensuring overlooked communities are made visible. Her most recent outdoor production is ‘Black Victorians’.

Vicki Amedume MBE

Vicki Dela Amedume has performed and created aerial and circus-based work in the UK and worldwide, working across all spheres of circus from traditional touring tented circuses to large-scale outdoor spaces and intimate touring indoor theatre. She founded Upswing to bring new artists and experiences to the stage, and beyond that reflect a dynamic and diverse world. Always looking for innovative ways to stretch the art form, Vicki Dela is a dedicated leader in the sector, working widely to develop established and emerging artists.

Vicki is also an Associate Director at The New Vic and Creative Director at The Albany, Deptford; she has provided circus and aerial direction to a range companies; she is Chair of The Baring Foundation Arts Committee and a trustee of Dance Umbrella.

Martin Wilson MBE

Martin is the Executive Director of TIN Arts, which he set up to address the lack of provision for people with a learning disability to participate in dance and the wider performing arts and it is a nationally recognised leader in best-practice inclusive dance delivery. Martin founded TIN Arts in 1999. He is committed to building a truly inclusive society with arts and culture at the heart of it.

Gurvinder Sandher MBE

Gurvinder is the Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus and is passionate about diversity and inclusion within the arts sector and champions increased visibility for Global Majority artists and organisations. The focus of Cohesion Plus’s work across Kent is to use the arts, sports and community engagement to bring people together. Gurvinder created Cohesion Plus in 2008 to compliment the work he was already doing with the then North West Kent Racial Equality Council to use the arts to bring communities together. He is in his own capacity a renowned bhangra dancer having performed all over the world and is a co-founder of Four by Four Bhangra one of the leading and respected exponents of Bhangra dance outside of India.