About
Pinwheel was established in summer 2019 to provide independent creative producing and consultancy services in outdoors arts, major cultural events and festivals.
Pinwheel’s work is driven by the twin principles of delivering exceptional, high-quality and accessible experiences to the broadest possible audiences and supporting artists to push boundaries and create their best work. Whether working with local authorities, cultural partners, participants or artists we are always striving to deliver the highest quality experiences with the fewest barriers to engagement.
Pinwheel believes that culture is essential, sparking imagination, cultivating curiosity and bringing enriching communal experiences to our everyday lives. It is the antidote to boredom; it is astonishment and wonder, contemplation and connection, inspiration and delight.
Director - Katy Fuller
Pinwheel was set up by Katy Fuller who has been working in the field of outdoor arts, spectacular events and festivals for over twenty years.
From 2015 – 2019 Katy was instrumental to Hull’s journey as UK City of Culture 2017, first as Executive Producer for the pivotal year and then as Creative Director and CEO of the successor company Absolutely Cultured. She played a strategic and creative role in scoping, developing and delivering a programme ranging from the most ambitious ever production by site-specific pioneers dreamthinkspeak, to Turner Prize 2017 with Tate. She also created Land of Green Ginger, a groundbreaking citywide programme of commissions - “Acts of Wanton Wonder” – united under one narrative and Urban Legends: Northern Lights, a new festival of projection and sound works inspired by the links between Hull and Scandinavian Countries.
Prior to joining the team in Hull, Katy had worked on some of the UK’s most iconic, genre-defying events, including Royal de Luxe’s The Sultan’s Elephant in London, Antony Gormley’s One & Other for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square and La Machine’s 50-foot high mechanical spider for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture (all in her role as Producer for Artichoke). She was Creative Producer for NewcastleGateshead’s Enchanted Parks in 2013 and 2014, charged with reinvigorating the event and bringing a new narrative structure to this after-dark festival, Live Event Producer for the BBC’s Great North Passion and Creative Producer for an iconic anniversary event for Newcastle Theatre Royal.
Allie Young, General Manager
Allie manages the day to day running of Pinwheel, working across projects and research, administration, operations, and policy and planning.
Allie has a background in arts and events management, community engagement, and education. She has worked with various arts and third sector organisations in North East England and Scotland, as a researcher and Associate Lecturer at Newcastle University, and as Project Manager at East 15, University of Essex.
Dominoes, by Station House Opera. Photo: Tom Arran.
Associates
DATevents provides a range of services including technical production management, event operations and health and safety, providing the bridge between creative vision and practical realisation. Pinwheel regularly collaborates with DAT Events on the operational and technical delivery of projects.
The Necessary Space. Pinwheel collaborates regularly with Simon Sharkey - Director, Writer, Facilitator - of the Necessary Space, an organisation dedicated to transforming, shaping and celebrating the possibilities and opportunities in every encounter..
Maddie Maughan. A long-time associate of Katy and Pinwheel, Maddie is a brilliant producer with an eye for detail and a wealth of experience of working with communities, volunteers and artists.
7 Alleys by Peripum. Part of Land of Green Ginger, Hull UK City of Culture 2017. Photo: Chris Pepper
Celestial Dreaming by And Now for Enchanted Parks 2014.
The Sultan's Elephant by Royal de Luxe, produced by Artichoke
Birthday Blaze by The World Famous for Newcastle Theatre Royal.