Gaby Sumner

Gaby studied History at Warwick University at undergraduate level, but followed her passion for the arts by taking the MA Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths in 2001. After completing the MA, Gaby worked as an Administrator and AccessWorker at Shape Arts before moving into fundraising for two non-arts charities. These positions were great entry-level and learning opportunities, so that less than three years after graduating from her Goldsmiths MA, Gaby became Trusts and Foundations Manager at the Royal Court Theatre.

Gaby worked at the Royal Court Theatre for six years, promoted first to Senior Development Manager and then to Head of Development, where she was responsible for raising £1.2 million a year towards the theatre’s productions and play development work. Following her time at the Royal Court Theatre, Gaby was Head of Development at Tate Liverpool for two years, moving North to take on this new role – the first time that Tate Liverpool had appointed a Head of Development to lead their fundraising.

Gaby now works at English National Ballet, where she was recently promoted from Head of Major Giving to Development Director. As Development Director, Gaby leads a fundraising team of 10 people who together raise £2 million per year. English National Ballet is also in the early stages of a capital fundraising campaign as the Company will be moving to a new home in East London in 2018.

Gaby has been a Trustee of a number of up and coming arts organisations, including HighTide and timewontwait, and she is currently Acting Chair of Hackney Showroom and on the board of Synergy Theatre Project.

The MA was an incredibly valuable learning experience and a brilliant introduction to working in the arts and cultural industries. Many of the friends she made on the course are still friends today - and fantastic contacts too!