The Team
Graeme Jennings
Graeme is a founder Director and is a former director of proArts consulting and of architecture and design practices in London and Milan. He remains a founder shareholder in an innovative start up company, Smartslab. He has extensive experience in the development of cultural projects and leads for the company on cultural planning, business and organisational development and capital projects. Graeme was one of the first assessor / advisers appointed by ACE and Heritage Lottery Funds in 1994 and he remains an adviser to local, regional and international organisations. Currently he is directing the development of the Africa Centre in Covent Garden and enabling a number of arts and culture projects for CABE including being part of their Thames Gateway 'think tank' advising on cultural and placemaking developments. Graeme initially qualified as an architect and was then the first recipient of the Master in Interdisciplinary Studies at Magdalen College, Cambridge. He is a fellow of the RSA and a member of the RIBA.
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William Tayleur
William is a founder Director and was formerly Head of Corporate Affairs at Sadler's Wells and the first Director of Marketing at the London Museum. He has particular interest in and leads on analytical market research, cultural evaluation and strategic forward planning for the arts, culture and creative sectors. William has worked on many theatre and museum projects, and is currently supporting the development of a new Theatre Museum, a National CV,and ways in which greater financial investment in culture can be leveraged by dialogues between cultural organisations, political infrastructure and business. William is Chair of the Mander & Mitchenson Theatre Collection, an officer of the National Council on Archives and a trustee of Ballet Black. He is a member of the AMA, AQR, IIPS, UK Evaluation Society, the Arts & Business Development Forum and a fellow of the RSA.
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Christiana Kazakou
Christiana joined the team quite recently as the coordinating consultant responsible for the smooth operation and administration of our work, our clients and the company. As well as impressive organisational skills Christiana has a passion for the Visual Arts & Music and is especially interested in multidisciplinary projects that show creative vision and innovation. Before coming to us she worked for diverse companies in the creative industries sector and her experience greatly assists the diverse work portfolio of Business of Culture. Christiana studied Financial Economics (BSc) and Arts Management (MA) and speaks fluent Greek and English.
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Melanie Abrahams
Melanie is the new Programming Consultant for the Africa Centre's redevelopment project working under the direction of the Interim Managers Business of Culture and the AC Programming Committee. With a background in brokering and galvanising large-scale and cross-platform arts projects, and with skills in curation, producing and project management, she is keen to weave current affairs, arts and culture together in ways that can be innovative, imaginative and impactful. Melanie holds a BSc degree in Politics (with a focus on International Relations) and in 2010 was a recipient of a 'Women to Watch' Award (Cultural Leadership Programme) for her ambitious and engaging work across artforms, particularly literature and spoken word. Her first arts job was as the Arts Programmer at the Africa Centre and Melanie is delighted to be working again with the organisation, this time in a different role. She is an RSA fellow, an Editorial Board Member of Wasafiri and a contributor to various think tanks.
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“Business of Culture can address any scale of project and from our operating base in Central London we have carried out projects throughout the UK and overseas.”