A New Year and new staff members joining Scilly Arts & Heritage
The Trustees at Scilly Arts & Heritage are thrilled to be kicking off 2025 by welcoming two new staff to their team.
The Trustees are delighted to announce the appointment of Lydia Bassett as the first Director of the charity and Teän Roberts as Engagement Officer.
Lydia is thrilled to be working with the Trustees and team to help mould the setup of the new cultural centre and museum at the Town Hall on St Mary's, to care for Scillonian heritage and celebrate the islands' distinctiveness with vibrant community, arts and cultural activity.
Lydia joins the team from a role as Director of Business Development at Gregynog, a Grade II listed historic house in Powys where she has been fundraising and managing capital projects, running an events programme and overseeing a 750 acre estate and nature reserve managed in partnership with the Woodland Trust and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.
Lydia said “Being the new Director for Scilly Arts and Heritage is an absolute dream come true. My husband Bruce and I have loved the islands since we first visited on honeymoon in 2000 – and been back over the years with our children and spaniels.
All my previous work has involved working with communities to share stories and support creativity – from producing and managing rural touring to producing a disability led film with performers working on a remote island. We have a huge amount to learn about the life and stories of Scilly and can’t wait to join the islands’ communities in launching this exciting new chapter for the Museum and Cultural Centre”
Teän Roberts grew up on St Mary’s and St Agnes, and - after leaving Scilly at 16 - studied at Falmouth University and University of the Arts London. Teän spent ten years working in the creative industries in London, which included photography, event production and writing, before returning to Scilly in 2019 to join the Isles of Scilly Council’s Democratic Services team as assistant to the Chief Executive.
Teän also recently completed a MA in Contemporary Art Practice at the Royal College of Art, which enabled further creative collaborations with notable institutions, including working with Tate Modern on their Tate Lates program, the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square, and Newlyn Gallery and the Exchange in Cornwall.
She is excited to be joining the team at the end of January and told us: “As a Scillonian with a long family history on the islands and a keen interest in their history, I am excited to combine my practical knowledge of life on Scilly with creativity and strong organisational skills, in order to engage with the Islands’ communities and help to make the new Cultural Centre and Museum a welcoming, engaging, responsive space to support the needs of Scilly’s residents and visitors, as well as the Islands’ unique and significant heritage.”
Lydia and Teän will be joining the Museum’s Curator Dr Rachael Utting and the team. The new centre is due to open at the much-loved Grade II listed Town Hall in Hugh Town, St Mary’s in Spring 2026 and there will be lots of opportunities for both islanders and visitors to get involved in both the Museum on the Move and a programme of events and activities across the islands throughout the coming year.
Ann Tudor, Chair of Scilly Arts & Heritage said: "We are really excited that Lydia is moving to Scilly to take up this role. Her leadership will be vital as we set up a welcoming hub for everyone, wherever they come from, including a new museum, community hall and performance space, cafe and shop. Across the islands Lydia will work with the community to develop creative programming which adds to everyone's understanding, experience and enjoyment of the archipelago.”