Alice Demba

Alice leads the formal education team at National Museums Liverpool (NML), managing a programme of learning activity for schools and groups of young people and adults across seven venues. Her work in the cultural education sector focuses on social justice, inclusion, and partnership working. Alice passionately believes in the power of art and culture to help people develop skills for work, life and wellbeing. She has previously worked for Curious Minds, Creative Partnerships, Save the Children, and Voluntary Service Overseas, teaching English in The Gambia, West Africa.

Alice loves all forms of visual art, writing, reading, dancing, drawing, painting, nature and wild swimming. She holds a BA in English from Leicester University and an MA in Journalism Studies from the University of Westminster.

Alice is delighted to be involved in judging entries to the dot-art Schools competition, giving school children the chance to create their own original artworks and see them displayed in the iconic Walker Art Gallery. She is looking forward to welcoming young people and their friends and families to the exhibition in June 2024.

Professor Matthew Pateman

Head of Department of Creative Arts, Edge Hill University

“I’ve made a career out of teaching, and writing about, the novels, poems, paintings and artworks, plays, films, TV shows, music, ideas, cultures and histories that enthral, amuse, affect, delight, challenge, embolden and move me. This career has taken me around the UK and Europe, the USA and Canada, allowed me to teach in France, Sweden, Germany, India and elsewhere; to meet heroes and icons. I have met and made friends with people of diverse backgrounds and differing aspirations whose minds have enriched mine, whose ideas have developed mine, whose generosity has thrilled me: these students and scholars – from Scarborough to Saskatoon; from Arkansas to Ahmedabad; from Oslo to Ormskirk – make each day a joy. My career is a privilege, and my responsibility at Edge Hill is to ensure that our students and colleagues get as much joy and benefit from the great institution of academia as is humanly possible. It is also my privilege and responsibility to meet with young people from our region and encourage their aspirations – as such I am thrilled to be part of this panel and cannot wait to see the art that these engaged, enthusiastic artists have produced!”

Faith Bebbington

Faith is an artist who creates dynamic, public sculptures with recycled materials, many of them re-using literally thousands of plastic milk bottles, helping to raise awareness of plastic pollution and its impact on our planet. With a studio base in Liverpool, she works nationally creating large sculptures for public settings, events and campaigns for clients such as Liverpool City Council, Veolia, itv, Art of London and Wembley Stadium.

She also devises issue based and commemorative art projects in partnership with schools, communities, local authorities and cultural organisations. For these community projects she re-uses waste paper and other waste materials in order to create sustainable temporary artworks. Her work has featured in NSEAD’s AD magazine and Access Art resources.  Visit Faith Bebbington’s website here.

“Many of my art projects involve engaging with schools, youth and community groups; as I enjoy working with people to encourage and develop their creativity. I’m pleased to join the judging panel and look forward to seeing the artworks submitted for dot-art Schools, a great programme inspiring the artists of the future.”

James Murphy

The original winner of dot-art Schools in 2013. James Murphy is now Managing Director of video production company; Event Horizon. Since his early success James has secured a BA in Literature and Screen writing, an MA in Documentary production, developed art installations and experiences using creative technologies, and became established in the film production industry. He is best known through his work with Royalty, the Rugby League World Cup, global delivery networks, the world para-swimming tournament, creative sectors across Liverpool, and global sporting events to name a few.

James credits some of his success to the dot-art Schools programme win stating that it was the initial moment where an outsider saw value in the work he was producing which in turn instilled a sense of confidence in him.  James works closely with galleries in Liverpool and continues to use his business to develop projects that help strengthen the Liverpool art scene.

Louise Hesketh

Louise is an arts and culture professional with over 20 years’ experience of working with contemporary art, touring exhibitions, arts development and building partnerships.

Currently Programmes Manager: Networks & Partnerships at Curious Minds, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people through access to great art and culture. Louise supports Local Cultural Education Partnerships across the NW, Yorkshire & Humber, develops and delivers training for the education and cultural sectors, and supports Curious Minds’ Early Years Network.

Louise holds a BA in Fine Art from Newcastle University and an MA in Museology from UEA. Following two years in the United States, where she managed the state-wide Art Touring Exhibition Service for Kansas, Louise returned to the UK where she worked as the arts development officer for Halton Borough Council, based at the Brindley Arts Centre, curating the exhibition programme, managing large-scale heritage and arts education projects and working closely with artists to develop Hazlehurst Studios in Runcorn.

Louise was Chair of Touring Exhibitions Group between 2011 and 2017 and delivers training and mentoring to museum and gallery professionals as part of TEG’s professional development programme.