Council Members

Joff Whitten

Joff Whitten is CEO of the Children’s Centre, a leading Manx charity dedicated to providing support to children and young people no matter their background, or complex lives.
 
Joff trained as an artist and musician with a BA ‘Fine Art’ (1st Class) and an HND in ‘Music’. Joff also has a MSc in ‘Education and Social Change’ and an FE level teaching qualification.
 
Across his 30-year career Joff has worked for a number of incredible organisations in the UK including Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Courtauld Gallery, Arts Council England, The Norfolk and Norwich Festival and Gecko Theatre. His career has been underpinned by the mission to encourage people from all backgrounds to engage with their local arts and cultural offer. From working with complex communities to people impacted homlessness to vulnerable children of all ages, Joff has experienced the impact and transformative power the arts can have on all of our lives.
 
Moving the Isle of Man 5 years ago to take on the CEO role at the Children’s Centre, Joff has tried to engage as much as possible with local arts and culture. For example, Joff plays guitar with celebrated Manx band Biskee Brisht and has developed an arts, music and film project Kitterland – their first complete film ‘2121’ is being screened off island receiving fantastic reviews.
 
Joff also sits on the Education Council and won Institute of Directors ‘3rd Sector Director of the Year’ in 2023.
 
Joff is a member of the Vis/Lit panel

Vacant Position

Peter Shimmin

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Acting, Arts University Bournemouth, 2013.

Manx-born Peter brings a wealth of experience to the Arts Council with his strong background in performance and musical theatre. A trained actor, Peter worked professionally in the industry for 10 years before returning to the Isle of Man and bringing his knowledge and experience to the local arts scene.

Over the last 20 years, he has performed in many shows with local theatre societies including the Douglas Choral Union and Taylorian Productions, as well as working behind the scenes as Assistant Director for Centre Stage Productions. These connections provide a vital link to the broad and dynamic grass-roots theatrical community on the Island.
Peter took over running Kensington Arts (formerly the Youth Arts Centre) in Douglas, and supported many young people in their creative development. This desire to help nurture and develop creative expression is a core principle of the Arts Council and an objective of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.

With a background in marketing and communications, Peter also champions the arts in a wider context, supporting and amplifying the work of creative individuals across the Island to highlight and recognise achievement.

Peter sits on the MaPa (music and performing arts) panel

Jo Davies

Fiona Edwards

Sarah Maltby MHK - Chair

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Communication Studies with Counselling, University of Chester, 2006.

Sarah was elected to the House of Keys in 2021 and is a Political Member in the Department of Education, Sport and Culture with a delegation for Culture. Sarah became Chair of the Isle of Man Arts Council in May 2024.

As a proud Manx Woman she has championed the Isle of Man and its unique Culture and Heritage for decades. Sarah is fully immersed in the island’s Music and theatre scene and is a regular audience member at events and shows across the Island.

Before her election, Sarah spent 14 years working in Secondary Education with young people with Complex additional needs. During this time she used expressive arts as a way to build relationships and give the young people the opportunity to begin to tackle and cope with challenges in their lives through the art they created. Sarah also spent over 20 years as a Part-time Carer supporting adults with a range of medical needs. Listening and creating Music and Dance formed part of the therapy for her service users.
 
From these experiences she has continued to highlight the importance of advocating for the arts in order to give creatives the enrichment they rely on for their own Wellbeing and in turn add to the rich social fabric so important to the growth and vibrancy of our Island.

Benjamin Heath - Vice Chair

Benjamin is Chief Operating Office for Gateway Trade & Investment that operates brands on the Isle of Man, such as Harbour Lights, Sir Norman’s and Wiltshire Farm Foods. In addition to his work on island, Ben sits on executive boards providing strategic guidance for international companies, SaladBox, BookAClassic.com and Viafik. Prior to this he worked for the BBC, Universal Picture, ITV and Channel 4 as an Assistant Director and Production Manager.
Outside of work Ben enjoys participating in the Isle of Man theatre scene, taking leading roles within local performances at the Gaiety and also directing and producing award winning amateur theatre. He is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and began his love of the arts working backstage at the Gaiety whilst at school on the island.
Ben lives in Peel where he is a commissioner, with his wife and two children.

David Kilgallon

Sharon Walker

Sharon is a Transformation Programme Director for an international Private Wealth business and has a Masters in Strategic Leadership and Management.
 
She has been involved in amateur theatre, both on and off the Island, for over 40 years. A passionate advocate for local drama, Sharon has been involved in numerous productions with most of the amateur groups on the island.
 
She has directed several award winning One Act plays receiving plaudits at festivals in the Isle of Man and in the North of England as well as full length plays at the Gaiety Theatre.

Sharon is Chair and a Trustee of the Manx Amateur Drama Federation (MADF), which promotes amateur drama performances and provides a focal point for inspiring acting talent. She is also a trustee of the UK based National Drama Festivals Association. Her main objectives for her period as Chair of the MADF are to stimulate greater cooperation between societies and across the Arts, as well as ensuring drama is accessible to all.
 
Sharon joined the Isle of Man Arts Council in 2018 and is Vice-Chair of the council.