Fariba Farshad

Fariba Farshad joined Candlestar in 2004 and has since built a considerable reputation for her work as a curator of outstanding exhibitions and in particular as a champion of Iranian art.  Her groundbreaking 2009 exhibition of three generations of Iranian women artists – the ‘Masques of Shahrazad’ - followed on from an equally well received exhibition of work by emerging Iranain artists ‘Whispered Secrets Murmuring Dreams ’ (2008) that introduced many young artists to the European scene. Fariba has recently secured a long term program of exhibitions at the Hyatt Regency London-The Churchill, the official hotel partner of the Frieze Art Fair. The latest exhibition titled Perspectives features five highly distinctive artists – two photographers, two painters and a young, Prague-based Iranian. She has also developed Candlestar‘s Art Sales business working with clients and galleries to source leading contemporary artists works.

In the education sphere Fariba leads a consultancy team responsible for the development of the digital side of Candlestar’s art and education portfolio. She developed and successfully implemented an e-strategy for learning and teaching for University of Creative arts. She was also the designer for best Practice Resource Centre for teachers for the General Teaching Council England. Her recent clients include the Prix Pictet, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Universities Human Resources, and the University College of the Creative Arts.

Prior to joining Candlestar Fariba was responsible for spearheading the strategic development of the University of the Arts’ IT networks for the integration of technology into teaching, learning and art, and design practice.  This included the development of groundbreaking game based learning, the creation of a Virtual Learning Environment, E-learning – MA Digital Art and FDA in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising - as well as the development of innovative and high quality learning packages that attracted numerous national and international awards. Fariba’s research was assessed as Grade 5 – internationally outstanding – in the Higher Education Funding Council’s Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Fariba’s work was the subject of a major feature in The Times entitled ‘Drawing is given a digital lead’ by Simon Tait.  Her innovative DVD on drawing ‘Seeing Drawing’ was shortlisted for a BAFTA and her innovative online fashion magazine Ntouch, the first of its kind, was launched to considerable critical acclaim in 1995.

Michael Benson

Michael Benson began his career in 1979 at the North East London Polytechnic where, in addition to duties that included press, publications and marketing, he was involved with several projects for Bob Geldof’s Band Aid Trust including Live Aid and Fashion Aid.  This work enabled him to lay the foundations of a formidable network of contacts in politics and the arts. At this time he also developed outstanding media skills and became adept at handling the media in times of crisis – a skill that has been invaluable both to him and the institutions he has served ever since.

In 1986 Michael Benson was appointed Director of Public Relations at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich. While at UEA he played a key part in the development, promotion and fundraising for the Arthur Miller Centre for American Studies, ran the University’s Silver Jubilee campaign and played a central role in helping to secure the funds for Norman Foster’s acclaimed Crescent Wing at the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts.

In 1993 he left UEA to take up the post of Director of Communications and Marketing at the London Institute. He was responsible for establishing the London Institute gallery and for building an exhibition programme that mixed outstanding student work with work by leading contemporary artists, designers and photographers. In this role he created Signatures of the Invisible a ground breaking collaboration with CERN in Geneva that lead to the production of an exhibition of contemporary art that toured the world between 2000 and 2003 when it completed its run at PS1 MOMA in New York. He also worked closely with the Institute’s International Director to build an international student recruitment business and led the campaign to secure a new site for Chelsea College of Art and Design at the site of the old Royal Army Medical College on Millbank.

Michael Benson is also a writer and film producer. His book ‘1000 years 1000 words’ was awarded a D&AD silver award in 2001. His play ‘Life’s A Monkey’ was performed at the Cochrane Theatre in London in the autumn of 2002.  His DVDs on Gustav Metzger and John Berger were released in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

In July 2003 Michael Benson left the London Institute to set up Candlestar Ltd.