We are delighted to welcome Mary Evans as new Slade Director, who started on 4 October. To get to know her better, we asked her five questions:

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice?
   My research interrogates the social and political frameworks of Diaspora. I work mainly on large scale site and research responsive installations. My main medium is paper which I use because it is both fragile and resilient and is a metaphor for the investigations at the core of my practice which involves making the Black Body visible. I deploy craft-based processes and my work is often ephemeral and temporary.
   
   
2. What was your previous role and what did it involve?
   Previously I was the BA Fine Art Course Leader at Chelsea College of Arts/UAL. I led the staff team in the running of the course and was also a personal tutor for 30 students a year. I particularly enjoyed teaching in year 1 when students are starting on their creative learning journey. I consider teaching to be part of my practice as an artist. Before Chelsea I was an associate lecturer at CSM where I taught on the BA Fine Art XD pathway as a personal tutor.
   
   
3. What is your vision for the Slade?
   At the core of my vision for the Slade is to strengthen equity in relation to staff and students and reduce barriers to inclusion and progress. I want to nurture and strengthen the diverse voices and experiences that make up the community of practice at the Slade.
   
   
4. Which artists do you admire?
   Kara Walker, Zanele Muholi, Carrie Mae Weems, El Anatsui, Sonia Boyce.
   
   
5. What advice would you give to artists starting their careers?
   Say ‘yes’ to opportunities, apply for opportunities: open calls, residencies, calls for papers etc. Even if you may not be immediately successful, you never know who will see and remember your work and contact you in the future.