Cayman National Cultural Foundation Board of Directors
Susan A Olde, OBE
Chairperson
J Roy Bodden
Member
Stephen Price
Member
Alanis Lindwood
Ministry of Youth, Sport, Culture and Heritage Representative, Ex Offico Members
Jennifer Dilbert, MBE
Deputy Chairperson
Jason Gilbert
Member
Lorna Reid
Member
Natalie Urquhart
Ex Offico Member
Arthur Dzaghgouni
Treasurer
Carmin Godfrey
Member
Sulekha Tummala
Member
Who’s Who at the Cayman National Cultural Foundation
Natalie Urquhart, MA, MA (Hons), BEM
Chief Executive Officer
Natalie Urquhart is CNCF’s Chief Executive Officer, currently on secondment from the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) where she has been Executive Director since 2009. She holds a MAs (Hons) in Art History, and in Arts Policy and Management, and has over twenty years’ experience within the local and regional cultural sector. She specialises in developing creative strategies, institutional development, programming and exhibitions for cultural entities.
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Urquhart is a leading authority on Caymanian art and culture, having worked as Director and Chief Curator at NGCI since 2009. She is the Immediate Past President of the Museums Association of the Caribbean (2017-2020); a former core committee member of the Tilting Axis – Caribbean art alliance (2016-2020); a member of the Cayman Islands National Cultural Policy Committee representing the Visual Arts, Fashion and Creative Industries sectors; and a former member of the Visual Arts Society, the Cayman Islands Constitution Commission, and the Chamber of Commerce. Highlights of her career include leading the National Gallery Capital Project, establishing the Cayman Islands Biennial – the country’s first multi-venue tri-island art project, creating the NGCI Creative Careers programme to help build capacity for the Caymanian creative sector, launching Cayman Art Week in response to the impact of the pandemic on the creative sector, and authoring the country’s first formal art history. She is the recipient of several national awards for her services to the cultural sector and she was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2022 for her services to arts and culture in the Cayman Islands and the wider region.
As CEO Natalie is responsible for the strategic and operational direction of CNCF, heading up a team that includes producers, technical staff, administrative staff, grants and development staff, and CNCF’s working committees. She is currently leading the organization’s strategic redevelopment project which explores the future direction of CNCF by building upon its 38 year legacy.
Melanie McField, MBA
Director, Programmes & Communications
Melanie McField holds a MSc in Business Administration (2011) from Nova Southeastern University, Florida, and a BSc in Business Administration, with a specialisation in Management Information Systems, (2000) from the University of South Florida. As a marketing and event planning strategist with over 15 years experience, she is an expert in organising and executing large-and small-scale events, and related marketing and communications strategies.
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Prior to joining CNCF as Chief Cultural Officer in 2019, Melanie was the Executive Director of the Pirates Week Office (2013-2019) where she was responsible for the overall execution of the Pirates Week Festival, the Cayman Islands largest and most long-standing national festival. She also worked previously with the Ministry of Financial Services in the Marketing and Communications Unit (MCU). In 2021, she was selected to join the Ministry of Investment, Innovation, and Social Development’s Dubai Expo 2020 Team, on secondment from CNCF, where she was responsible for assisting the Cayman Islands Expo Representative with the overall planning and execution of the Cayman Islands programme.
As CCO, Melanie is responsible for leading CNCF’s programming team and developing and executing CNCF’s festivals, events, and programmes.
Barry Campbell
Theatre & Events Technician
With over thirty years’ experience in live sound engineering, lighting, stage and event productions, Barry Campbell is CNCF’s Theatre & Events Technician. He previously worked as Sound Engineer & Events Department Supervisor at AI Rentals, and has performed as musician, sound engineer, live event technician & DJ for many international and local acts such as The Juveniles, UBU, Tabia, Localmotion, MOJ, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGreggor, Beres Hammond, Third World, Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers, Steel Pulse, Maxi Priest.
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Since joining the organisation in 2017, Barry has provided technical expertise for CNCF’s wider programme schedule, including: Rundown, Gimistory, Red Sky at Night, the National Arts & Culture Awards, Cayman Islands Folk Singers, art exhibitions, summer camps, Young at Arts, and Young Image Makers. His responsibilities include managing the technical aspects of theatrical performances at the Harquail and Studio Theatres, along with lighting, sound, and stage management for productions and live events, such as theatrical performances, concerts, festivals, conferences, exhibitions & showcases.
George Jones
Front of House Supervisor
George Jones is a cultural practitioner, professional musician, and events coordinator with over thirty years’ experience in festivals and theatre productions. He is the founding member of one of the world’s greatest Soca bands, Square One, out of Barbados. He has travelled the world extensively performing in internationally renowned world class venues such as Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, The Apollo Theatre and The Hammersmith Palais, to name a few.
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George has been actively involved in CNCF’s programmes since 2010, initially starting out as a volunteer before transitioning into the role of musical director for the annual productions of Rundown and Gimistory from 2013 to 2020. He officially joined the CNCF staff in 2019 where in his capacity as Programmes Coordinator he was responsible for the Cayman Islands delegation to Carifesta XIV held in Trinidad. That year he was also actively involved in the production of NACA, Red Sky at Night, National Children’s Festival of Arts, Rundown and Gimistory.
George is the recipient of a Barbados Music Award lifetime Achievement Award as well as a Silver Star for ‘Creativity in the Arts’ in the Cayman Islands.
In his new role of Front of House Supervisor, George brings a wealth of knowledge and experience which will enhance the relationship and interaction between the theatre, our clients and the wider public.
Nicole Durrant, BFA
Programmes Coordinator
Nicole Durrant is a graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston Jamaica, where she earned a BFA in dance performance and Chorography. Since then, Nicole has been an active dance artist who has taught dance techniques to youth and adults in Cayman, performed with various dance groups and institutions in Cayman as well as produced a few independent dance productions and exhibitions. Nicole is passionate about the art form of dance and believes that it is an effective tool for entertainment, education, and investigation into cultures around the world.
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Nicole works with CNCF’s programmes team as Programmes Coordinator to implement programming that engages, educates, and fosters the growth and continuity of Caymanian history and culture through the Arts.
Janine Moss, BA (Hons)
Projects Assistant (Office Administration)
Originally from Sheffield, England, Janine graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a BA (Hons) Combined Studies in Drama and English. She then went on to complete a PGCE at the University of Leeds, where her love of teaching and education was developed.
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Janine has been living and teaching in the Cayman Islands for the past 25 years, having visited her father in Cayman Brac from the age of 16. During her time teaching at First Baptist Christian School, she taught Third and Fifth Grades, Middle School, was Head of Literacy and later Vice Principal, and served as a mentor to new teachers. She has also worked as speech coach to children for the National Children’s Festival of the Arts and recently completed a course of study to teach writing to children and teenagers.
Janine is a longstanding member of the Cayman Drama Society and has acted in many performances including Peter Pan, Dancing at Lughnasa, and Dracula, Lucy’s Kiss. She joined Dance Unlimited/Cayman Islands National Dance Company when first arriving on Island and has performed in various dance productions over the years, as well as instructing dance with Salsa Rica.
Having volunteered with CNCF over the years, Janine is excited to formally join the team working in arts administration and providing support for CNCF festivals, workshops and productions.
Sarah Needham, BA (Hons)
Programmes Assistant
Sarah Needham is a recent graduate from the University of Manchester, attaining a BA (Hons) Degree in Modern History with Economics. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the growth and success of Caymanian culture and has previously worked as an intern at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. Outside of CNCF, she is part of the Cayman Art Week team, and is an avid learner of Caymanian history.
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Sarah has been passionate about cultural heritage and preservation since she was an undergraduate student in the United Kingdom, having also volunteered at the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum in Manchester. As programmes Assistant, Sarah aids the programmes team in the coordinating and promotion of CNCF events and festivals, as well as the expansion of beloved Caymanian institutions such as the Folk Singers’ Choir. As part of CNCF’s strategic redevelopment project, Sarah is also responsible for consolidating CNCF’s collection of cultural archives, in order to make decades worth of precious Caymanian documents and artifacts more accessible to the public.
Matthew Whittaker, BA (Hons)
Projects Assistant (Events)
Matthew has been interested in pursuing a career in film production and screen writing from a young age. He has completed filmmaking intensives at the New York Film Academy and the University of Texas, and holds a BA (Hons) in Film & Media from the University of Sunderland, UK.
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Since graduating he has had the opportunity to work as a production and location assistant on several films made in the Cayman Islands including Tocsin (directed by Frank E Flowers), The Baker (featuring Ron Perlman), and Daniel’s Gotta Die (featuring Bob Saget and an all-star cast, along with musician Iggy Pop).
Matthew won first and third place in CNCF’s Young Image Makers Competition for Sheol (2013) and Untitled (2012), respectively. He has shown his films at local festivals with highlights including Giallo (Unlike Film Festival, 2014). When he is not developing film concepts and writing scripts, he enjoys volunteering at cultural events in Cayman including Red Sky at Night and CayFilm.
Matthew originally joined CNCF as Stage Manager for Rundown and later worked as a Project Assistant before the pandemic. He rejoined the organization in 2023 and works across the production and programmes department, providing administrative and technical support as well as festival and event production assistance.
George Dexton Powery
Groundskeeper
George Dexton ‘Deckie’ Powery is one of CNCF’s longest serving staff members, having been with the organisation for over a decade. Deckie is CNCF’s Ground Keeper, responsible for maintaining the extensive grounds at the Harquail Theatre and the Mind’s Eye Centre in South Sound. In addition to his primary role, he regularly assists CNCF’s Operations Coordinator and Theatre and Events Technician, as well as provides support for CNCF’s wider programming schedule.