Our Team | YofA

Meet the Team

Passion. Creative Insight. Dedication.

We're proud to be powered by a passionate and diverse team; from artists and educators to incredible volunteers with skills in project management, administration, and social media. What unites us all is a shared belief in the power of creativity, the value of community, and the importance of individual wellbeing.
Scroll down to meet the people behind YofA; the dreamers, doers, and makers who bring our ground-breaking programme to life. Or better yet, join one of our activities and say hello in person.

We love to connect!

Founder & Director

San Casciani

With a background in education and anthropology, I launched the first Year of Arts in May 2023 as a personal passion project—an effort to bring meaningful, hands-on artistic practice into our own home. What began as a small creative experiment has since blossomed into a dynamic, community-rooted programme now running in multiple locations across Leinster. Today, YofA proudly collaborates with a wide range of partners—from childcare services and disability support organisations to corporate teams seeking meaningful, creativity-driven wellbeing experiences for their managers & staff. At its heart, our mission remains the same: to use art as a powerful tool for wellbeing, confidence, success, and personal growth.

Creative & Finance Director

Norma Galvin

With a background in both education and financial advising, I’m passionate about empowering people with the tools they need to thrive—whether that’s through financial literacy or creative expression. I believe in the transformative power of art to build confidence, spark joy, and nurture wellbeing at every stage of life. I joined YofA as Creative & Financial Director in early 2024 and haven’t looked back. Watching people of all ages light up with creativity and connection through this programme is nothing short of magical. It’s joy, growth, and food for the soul—all rolled into one.

Artist-in-Residence

Christine de Paor

I work as a visual artist, selling and exhibiting my work in various locations throughout Dublin and Wicklow. I work with mixed media including oil pastels, oil paints, acrylic, graphite, pigments, gesso and wax. I predominantly use mark making as a visual language expressing themes based around the landscape and the energy found in and beneath the surface of the land. For YofA I deliver workshops and offer consultations.

407Matthew-Rose-Nel-MRN-Photography UCD Careers Fair 2025-MRNP7135January 28, 2025.jpg

Project Manager

Sijia Li

Hi there, I'm Sijia Li, a postgraduate of UCD Smurfit Business School. I'm really happy to be a member of Year of Arts, and enjoy working together with San and other excellent YofA team members to learn from each other and make a change.

Social Media Manager

Sidra Aftab

I am a passionate social media manager and event strategist with a background in Software Engineering and a strong love for the arts. After building my career in Dubai, I relocated to Dublin in June 2024, bringing with me a rich blend of international experience and creativity. I hold certifications in Digital Marketing and Social Media Management from Meta and Google. Through my role at Years of Arts, I am excited to help grow artistic initiatives and build engaging online communities through digital storytelling. For YofA I manage the LinkedIn and Instagram platforms.

Social Media Manager

Jessica McEvoy

After graduating in Audio & Visual Media in 2024, I’ve spent nearly 10 years creating art, photoshop images, short films and documentaries. I love to be creative and use my skills to elevate the reach and quality of communities and organisations. I’ve worked with Spraoi and Winterval (Waterford) for many years and am excited about my journey with YofA working on Facebook, X and TikTok.