Brian Valente-Quinn
Brian Valente-Quinn is a researcher and professor in the fields of literary and performance studies. Currently an associate professor of francophone African studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, he has published transdisciplinary research on the political and social stakes of theater and cultural production in France and West Africa. His work focuses on the emergence and impact of decolonial ideologies and practices as well as cross-border artistic engagements, in Europe and Africa, with the problem of extremism.
Frédérique Louveau - Treasurer
Frédérique Louveau holds a PhD in social anthropology and ethnology from the EHESS, School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences. She is teacher-researcher at the Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis in Senegal. She is a member of several scientific associations and has been organising many conferences and cultural events, including Festicoll-Festival Colloque International de Saint-Louis. Her research work encompasses globalization issues including religious movements in Africa, environmental issues, well-being or tourism.
Elodie Peltier - President
Elodie Peltier holds a master's degree in art history from University La Sorbonne, and a master's degree in digital project and UX management from Gobelins - Ecole de l'image.
Elodie has over ten years of experience in the cultural sector. After a stint in public relations and press management, she moved on to work as a project manager and artistic director in France and the UK, creating unique events for all kinds of audiences. Recently, she widened her area of expertise to encompass user experience design for digital projects.
Milica Ilić
Milica Ilić is a cultural worker specialised in transnational cooperation and contemporary performing arts. Milica is fascinated with collective processes of change-making in the arts and culture. As a freelance consultant, she has worked on numerous international cooperation, training, research and evaluation projects in the field of culture. Speaking frequently in support of transnational cooperation at international conferences and in other fora, Milica is author and co-author of several publications and research studies on contemporary arts and culture, in particular concerning South East Europe. She is a member of the Board of Balkan Express, a platform for collaboration in the field of contemporary art and other socially engaged practices with and within the Balkans.
She was an artistic advisor at Onda, the French office for performing arts circulation, where she also coordinated the project RESHAPE - a collaborative, bottom-up research process that proposes tools for transition towards an alternative, fairer, and more unified arts ecosystem across Europe and the Southern Mediterranean. Milica has formerly worked as Head of Communications and Administration for IETM - international network for contemporary performing arts. Her professional experience also includes work at the Centre for Professional Development of the University of Arts in Belgrade, the Belgrade House of Youth, and several festivals and theatre projects in the city.
Colette Martin - Secretary
Colette Martin mentors cultural professionals and supports them to develop innovative projects. She was previously in charge of career development and lifelong learning at the French Ministry of Culture, with particular responsibility for personnel in France's museum and heritage sector. In 25 years at the Ministry, she contributed to the design and implementation of numerous cultural policies, coordinated initiatives in the field of knowledge exchange, transmission and capacity building, and developed ambitious training programmes.
In the past, she has also worked as a creative producer for several cultural organisations active in the performing arts and visual arts sectors. She is passionate about connecting all forms of artistic expression with audiences – whether they know these arts well or not at all.