Ilayda Akarca and Abbi Bayliss join the RWA as new Trustees

Ilayda Akarca and Abbi Bayliss join the RWA as new Trustees

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Abbi Bayliss and Ilayda Akarca as new members of its Board of Trustees. The appointment is supported through the Rising Arts Agency OnBoard programme. 

The appointments of Abbi and Ilayda mark a significant step in our commitment to nurturing a new generation of cultural leaders and ensuring that forward-looking voices help shape the Academy’s future. 

We are absolutely delighted to welcome Abbi and Ilayda to the Board. Their creativity, insight and lived experience bring fresh energy to the Academy. It is vital that young people are at the heart of our leadership as we continue to evolve the RWA for the future. George Ferguson, Chair of the RWA

Ilayda is an artist, facilitator and producer whose work spans exhibitions, public programmes and community projects. They have worked with cultural organisations in delivering collaborative work, engaging audiences, supporting young people through workshops, and mentoring emerging artists within both grassroots and organisational contexts. 

Bristol-based visual artist Abbi Bayliss is widely recognised for work that centres representation and celebrates women of colour, with exhibitions across the Southwest and commissions including work for the BBC. Thier practice spans illustration, publishing and community engagement. 

The OnBoard programme, led by Rising Arts Agency, recruits, trains and supports young people to take up governance roles within cultural organisations, placing youth voice at the centre of sector leadership.