RIAC has recently matched Amanda Cusimano with Applause Rural Touring, a charity that brings cultural experiences to rural public places across Kent, Sussex and Essex. She joins another RIAC trustee Lizzie Pencavel on the Applause Board.

Amanda has worked in the cultural sector for over 16 years in roles dealing with data, research and evaluation. She has built her experience working in different part of the ecosystem: on the funding side at the Arts Council, on the side of funded organisations at the Barbican and for a commercial organisation at Frieze. At BOP Consulting, she supported cultural organisations including funders and not for profits, in areas of evaluation, research and strategy. She is passionate about the visual and performing arts and committed to advocating for their societal benefits.

She says: “I am very excited to join Applause’s Board; the work they deliver is fantastic and important, bringing creative and inspiring experiences to culturally underserved neighbourhoods. I am thankful to RIAC who made this possible through a simple and efficient process.”

Dawn Badland, Director at Applause, says: “RIAC has been fantastic for us as an organisation, carefully aligning potential trustees to benefit both their development and our needs. We were incredibly fortunate to find dedication in Lizzie as a new Trustee and now we look forward to getting to know Amanda who also joins us with a whole host of amazing skills to share.”