Co-Founder, Co-Director, Arts Manager & Graphic Designer for an Artspace in Iceland
ARTS MANAGEMENT
CULTURAL PROGRAMMING
EVENT PRODUCTION
EXHIBITION DEVELOPMENT
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
BRANDING & GRAPHIC DESIGN
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
INTERIOR DESIGN
FUNDRAISING
Project
Listastofan was an independent non-profit art space in Vesturbær, Reykjavík, that I Co-Founded and Co-Directed with Martyna Daniel in 2015. My vision was informed by the grassroots artist-run spaces and creative communities I had experienced in Glasgow and Sydney. I wanted to create a welcoming and affordable space for emerging artists, fostering creative exchange and connection within the local and international arts community, and invited Martyna to join me in bringing that vision to life. Together, we developed Listastofan into a thriving artist-run space and community.
I stepped away from my role in 2017 to pursue a new professional opportunity overseas in arts management, but continued to support Listastofan’s funding, branding and design during the transition. The space operated until 2019.
Brief
As Co-Founder and Co-Director, I played a leading role in the strategic development, programming and operations of the art space. I conceived and developed several of Listastofan’s key programmes, including the regular life drawing programme, which I personally produced and hosted for 40 sessions, and the literary open mic night Stranger Than Fiction, named after one of my favourite films and inspired in part by Sydney’s ‘Penguin Plays Rough’. I developed the writer-led format and produced six events. I also developed an international artist residency in partnership with Oddsson Hotel and an artist scholarship.
I successfully secured local government funding to refurbish the space and designed a new interior that enhanced its functionality and atmosphere. I also developed and managed Listastofan’s visual identity, website, signage, promotional materials, press releases and marketing, alongside the practical production of exhibitions and events.
Outcome
Listastofan became a vibrant creative hub and an active part of Reykjavík's grassroots cultural scene, providing a meeting point for local and international artists and audiences. The space hosted numerous exhibitions, workshops, and events, enriching the local arts scene and fostering lasting connections among artists and the wider community.