Executive Team

Executive Team

Kathryn McManus

Kathryn joined Creative Response as CEO in January 2021, making a career switch from the senior civil service, which allowed her to bring two big personal passions together in her working life: valuing the arts as a source of joy; and the importance of improving services and opportunities for the most vulnerable in society.  

Bringing renewed ambition for the organisation, and the people it supports,  Kathryn has driven and overseen significant growth and diversification of Creative Response’s service offer. This has included: setting up two new dedicated art groups at the main studios, for Ukrainian refugees, and older people; and two new satellite offers in Hampshire.

These developments have been underpinned by Kathryn’s energetic pursuit of new collaboration and partnership opportunities, widening the charity’s network, and strengthening community support.

While Kathryn enjoys making quick sketches, her own creative practice is more music-focused, playing piano and violin. Kathryn gets to galleries as often as she can, and also loves theatre – especially the consistently amazing and inspiring productions of the National Theatre in London.

Anna Matthews

Anna brings over 25 years’ experience working with an array of small businesses and charities, all with a creative core and with lots of heart. Working previously in Operations, Charity events management, Creative services and Product development. 

Her passion of supporting creative people, and giving back is woven throughout her career, and at the forefront of everything she does. She understands the practical, human and creative aspects of being part of a creative charity. 

Anna is a constant scribbler who loves to draw and wishes she could paint. She has been Operations Manager at Creative Response since May 2022.