We’re delighted to share some exciting news about the next chapter in The Barn’s story.
At the end of October, Giulia Montalbano and Adam Pushkin joined us as Co-Directors, leading the Barn into a new era of creativity, collaboration and community connection - here in Deeside and beyond.
Meet Giulia
(Photo credit: Mel Shand)
Giulia is a creative practitioner, choreographer and arts leader with over 20 years’ experience across performance, education and community development, working with organisations such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Macrobert Arts Centre and NHS Tayside.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Barn at such an inspiring moment in its journey,” says Giulia. “This role brings together my passions for creativity, collaboration and community. I’m excited to develop projects that are inclusive, imaginative and rooted in the spirit of togetherness.”
Meet Adam
(Photo credit: Mel Shand)
Adam brings 25 years of experience in arts leadership and festival management, including time with the British Council in India and Indonesia, where he co-founded Indonesia’s first-ever disability arts festival.
“The Barn has been a huge part of my life since I moved to Banchory two years ago,” says Adam. “It’s an enormous privilege to work alongside Giulia to lead this wonderful organisation. I can’t wait to start creating amazing and memorable experiences with the team and our communities.”
For over 30 years, the Barn has been a home for creativity, environmental awareness and community connection. Our programme spans film, theatre, music, dance and creative workshops. We’re proud to support artists and thinkers who explore our relationship with nature and each other.
Looking ahead, Giulia and Adam will lead delivery of our Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding (2025–2028), supporting major projects such as:
The Far Orchard Project - reimagining the traditional apple orchard through tree planting across the Banchory area. To learn more about the Far Orchard, visit thefarorchard.co.uk
The Walled Garden transformation - creating a vibrant, community-focused space that celebrates rural heritage, ecology and creative learning. To learn more about the Walled Garden, click here.
The team at the Barn can’t wait for this next chapter to unfold, and to share more as new ideas, projects and collaborations take root.
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