Deborah Barker

Background

About Deborah Barker

As director of Field and Folk and co-founder/director of Southeast England Fibreshed I bring 25 years experience of working in the rural economy and creative arts in the public, private and voluntary sectors. I thrive on challenges and bring lateral thinking to build connections across art forms and sectors, particularly farmers and academics to create new possibilities for collaboration, partnership and engagement. I am particularly interested in exploring the meeting point between the urban and rural and agriculture and fashion. I am currently engaged in a contract for Pasture for Life to set up and manage a farmer mentoring programme and running the events programme for the The High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In 2017 I set up a natural dye studio and consultancy to initiate and produce exhibitions, events and workshops which explore the intersection of AgriCulture, Craft and Creativity with a focus on natural dyeing, soil to soil textiles and the climate crisis. I am currently managing a project for SE Fibreshed to map regenerative wool and organic wool in the Southeast of England. As we shape our present and future in a post pandemic world it is critical that we work with the best of the knowledge and skills of our ancestors combined with a 21st century scientific knowledge. We need to value the knowledge and skills built up over generations, particularly in farming and craft and communities with a strong oral tradition and rooted in a living relationship with the land. Skilled in Project Management, Programming/Development, Research, Mentoring, Exhibition Development and Delivery, Audience Development and Marketing, Public Art