We are a team of digital creators who make content that matters through Film, Animation, Photography & Print

OUR SHAPE IS UNIQUE 

We are a Community Interest Company (CIC). This model means collaborating with us contributes to having a meaningful impact on the people and community we live in. We go further than just creating digital content – our profits create change. We invest hugely in creating work and opportunities for a diverse future workforce. Our ground breaking mentoring programme gives young people a voice, independence and confidence to break into the digital world. 

OUR RELATIONSHIP IS UNIQUE 

We don’t work for you but with you. In our process we listen, reflect then create. We thrive in working closely with you to realise your core ambition and offer meaningful digital solutions. We make sure that your investment goes further and creates the best possible return.

 

OUR PARTNERS & PARTICIPANTS ARE UNIQUE

They range from ordinary people with extraordinary insights, to recognisable brands and some of the world’s best sports clubs and athletes. No matter who they are, our passion and commitment remains the same.

 

NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR MISSION

Our commitment to support diverse young people to fulfil their film and digital ambitions is supported by national partner Arts Council England. They acknowledge our team as “outstanding” for our practice. As one of their National Portfolio Organisations, they strengthen our mission to provide an accessible and welcoming place to nurture new talent.

This mission is also embedded in our partnership with Swindon Borough Council working collaboratively through our Social Enterprise model to enable communities and young people to grow civic pride and aspiration through co-production of inspiring digital stories shared in public and cultural venues.

MEET THE TEAM

  • SHAHINA
    JOHNSON MBE

    CEO & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Shahina has over 25 years’ experience in arts management and media production and has spent much of that at Create Studios with the occasional secondment to run national Cultural Education projects but always returns! She is proud to have led Create through its transition to a Social Enterprise model embracing all digital media above and beyond her roots in film. Shahina has previously supported Bristol’s Watershed and Swindon & Wiltshire LEP Boards, and was delighted to receive an MBE in the 2018 New Year’s Honours for services to Arts and Creative Industries in Swindon & Wiltshire. As an Arts Council England SW Area Council member, Shahina is committed to positive change in the Creative Industries.

  • MARILYN
    FITZGERALD

    EXEC DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION/SKILLS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

    Marilyn loves the arts and enabling young people to progress and is delighted to be Co-Director at Create as she gets to enjoy both things. As Production Manager, she heads up the team to bring the many, diverse Create projects to fruition, and is heroic in her efforts to secure the trickiest of locations and permissions. Marilyn works alongside Gurch to teach the Create Futures Graduates the nuances of Production Management and the powers of tact and diplomacy. She happily provides them with pastoral care and is the Reference Queen propelling them further in the industry. Marilyn likes to write, a skill woven into many productions, with a particular love of comedy writing based on her previous experience running a comedy club in Swindon.

  • GURCH
    SINGH

    EXEC DIRECTOR & SENIOR FILM CREATIVE

    Gurch is a South West based Director/ Self Shooter who has experience of working in various sectors from broadcast to award winning short films also mentoring our young digital creative group, MassMedia. He was Lead Artist on SEE ME TOO, delivering amazing, lyrical exhibition pieces for Create's social history projects, as well as our corporate productions from Chelsea FC to National Trust and more. He brings his experience of the Production Sector and Skills Development to his role as Non-Exec Director of Create.

  • SIMON
    PERKINS

    NON-EXEC DIRECTOR

    Simon brings his experience of corporate finance and partnership mergers to benefit Create’s Social Enterprise model, and is committed to supporting the not-for-profit sector with his skills. Having overseen international mergers for clients like The Prudential, Simon’s diligence and attention to detail benefits Create’s current and future partnerships, ensuring that our model is sustainable and robust. Simon is passionate about our aims, and glad his financial skills can support real change through Create’s work.

  • SALLY
    CLEMENTS

    NON-EXEC DIRECTOR

    Sally has worked within youth and community education, with schools, in grant giving roles and with the voluntary sector for many years. She assists individuals and organisations to build their arts and cultural engagement as an evaluator, facilitator, business consultant and writer. She is a quality assessor for Arts Council England and a senior panel member at Trinity College London. She now lives in Devon freelance and in a paid role with Devon Community Foundation, but was raised in Wiltshire where she still has strong roots. Sally works across the South West bringing a breadth of perspective in her role as Non-Exec Director.

  • THOM
    HOBBS

    FILM CREATIVE

    A talented Photographer and Filmmaker, Thom works with us in a Production role where he creates original content across photo and film, assists in production and filming on location shoots, and works as our in house Editor on many high profile projects. Outside of Create Studios, Thom works nationally and internationally for brands, creating engaging content for digital and print.

  • ASH
    ALI

    FREELANCE ASSOCIATE

    Ash came to Create Studios with a background in illustration having done a brief stint in a tattoo parlour drawing on paper and on people. Supported through an Advanced Creative Apprenticeship at Create he transferred his drawing and illustration skills to digital design but can still be found 'colouring in' and 'doodling' on a quiet moment. He is now a Freelance Graphic Designer leading on Create's brand and key projects like SEE ME TOO and Digiheds whilst working on diverse projects from making apps, posters, clothing and other products in his own online store.

  • HENRY
    MEREDITH

    FREELANCE ASSOCIATE

    Henry came to us through our young people’s group MassMedia and worked his way up from a volunteer runner to becoming one of our regular paid Freelance Associates, adept in camera, sound and editing. As well as crewing our professional productions, Henry mentors other young people through MassMedia and outreach commissions across the South West from Cheltenham with the Wilson Gallery to Stonehenge with English Heritage. All this when he is not filming in Nepal, the States and beyond….catch him while you can!

  • KIARA
    WAKELEY

    FREELANCE ASSOCIATE

    Kiara joined Create in August 2019, and is a part of our Outreach team sharing digital skills in formal and informal settings with young people and communities. Helping them to grow confidence, new skills and make positive choices about their futures. Being a Producer is something she is working towards and already has produced the recent film 'Like a Person' with LGBTQ+ Community, 'Out of the Can'.

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