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This is a digitally paintified picture of myself

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Carola Boehm (Co-Lead Create Place) & Template

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Carola Boehm (Co-Lead Create Place) & Template

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Current Roles and Projects:

Co-Lead of Create Place

Professor of Creative and Cultural Industries

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
It has been such a priviledge to co-lead this programme, getting to know the amazing talent we have in the cultural, creative, heritage and library sectors.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
I would highlight that:

Create Place is the only programme in the UK dedicated to leadership for the cultural sectors with a focus on placemaking and co-creation

It allows fellows to connect with each other and with senior cultural leaders in our sectors

It brings together the expertise of many sector development organisations, such as University of Staffordshire, Stoke Creates CIO, ReForm Heritage Trust, Wikimedia UK, Keele University, Art UK, Historic England, The Audience Agency, XTRAX, Creative Lives, Wikimedia, Unltd, Arts&Heritage, Historic England, Barts, NewVic, Cheshire Dance, Appetite, Stoke Creates, and many more.

Future Aspirations and Plans:
We really want to continue to expand this programme. We have recently incorporated CREATE PLACE as a social enterprise in order to ensure its longevity.

Past Experience and Skills:

music, music technology, podcasting

higher education, interdisciplinarity, Uni 3.0

arts and society, Culture 3.0, cultural democracy, everyday creativity

Current Projects:

Create Place: The Placemaking and Co-Creation Leadership Programme in North Staffordshire and Cheshire East  - https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/createplace

C3 Centre Creative Industries and Creative Communities- https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/c3centre/

DICO: Opening new career paths for arts and culture students - https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/c3centre/projects/dico-creating-digital-career-stories-erasmus/

Factory: Supporting Creative Businesses - https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/c3centre/projects/factory/

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

C3 Centre News blogs https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/c3centre/news/

Connect with me for...

just wanting to have a chat about Create Place

just wanting to reconnect with teh Create Place Team

just wanting to explore a project

just wanting to chat about potenital PhD

Contact Details and WWW:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carola-boehm-79254534

WWW: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/people/carola-boehm

Email: Carola.Boehm@staffs.ac.uk

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This is a picture of me Gardening in the Spode Rose Garden, taken by photographer Stephanie Rushton, as part of the Woman's Work Exhibition at AirSpace Gallery.

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Current Roles and Projects:

Co-Director of The Portland Inn Project and AirSpace Gallery

Co-Lead of Create Place

Associate Professor of Fine Art and Social Practice

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
It has been a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the range of practices and projects in creative placemaking happening across the country. It has been an incredibly enjoyable programme to be part of and has really got me thinking more about the role of the artist in cultural development.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
I would tell them You will be part of a growing network of Creative Placemaking specialists, who are making wonderful work and change in their places.

Future Aspirations and Plans:
I concur with Carola: We really want to continue this programme.

Past Experience and Skills:

social practice artist, supporting place based cultural and creative development

participatory art and creative community consultation

development of artist led initiatives and networks of support

Current Projects:

Create Place: The Placemaking and Co-Creation Leadership Programme in North Staffordshire and Cheshire East  - https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/createplace

The Portland Inn Project: A Community and artist led cultural development project for and with a community in Stoke-on-Trent. Recent ACE NPO. https://www.theportlandinnproject.com/

The Spode Rose Garden: Lead artist on AirSpace Gallery public art project, which developed an abandoned plot into a Public Pocket Park. https://www.airspacegallery.org/index.php/2020/spode

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

A Restless Art Case Study of The Portland Inn Project and the Spode Rose Garden: https://arestlessart.com/case-studies/the-portland-inn-project/

Connect with me for...

just wanting to have a chat about Create Place

just wanting to reconnect with the Create Place Team

just wanting to explore a project

just wanting to chat about potential PhD

Contact Details and WWW:
Anna Francis - Staffordshire University (staffs.ac.uk)

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Current Roles and Projects:

Creative Producer (maternity cover) for In Good Company

Associate Producer, Best of Enemies (West End)

Board member, Young Arts Fundraisers

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
I had learnt and put into practice the action learning and coaching technique, don't always get it right but it has really encouraged me to apply that in my collaboration and when line-managing staff

I'm always going to remember the cultural 3.0 theory Carola mentioned, and use that in areas of my work.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
You're on a supportive journey where fellows champion and challenge each other.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

I think I want to become an Artistic Director or Executive Director for a theatre company or venue

Connect with me for...

If you want to exchange insights, or want to learn more about the theatre industry, producing, and the landscape

Contact Details and WWW:
natalieyuenyuechan@gmail.com

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Current Roles and Projects:

Founder & Director of Human-Nature

Nature’s Ways to Wellbeing

Digital Social Prescribing

Digital Wellbeing eBook Publisher

Wellbeing Artist/Creative (Mindful Photography & Poetry)

Outdoor Wellbeing Activity Leader

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?:

An opportunity to meet new creatives from a wider geographical area and different fields of cultural leadership and place-making practice - plus receive high quality 121 mentoring.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

Continue evolving our Human-Nature project (and ‘Nature’s Ways to Wellbeing’ model) as a national leading organisation in nature-based solutions for health improvement, prevention, self-care and positive mental wellbeing.

Continue scaling through ‘digital wellbeing solutions’ and our ‘virtual nature escapes’.  We’re already expanding our reach and impact way beyond the Stoke & Newcastle areas to beneficiaries in all parts of the UK.

Look into the potential of developing saleable products to support our longer term financial sustainability and reduce our dependence on funding.

Past Experience and Skills:

B Eng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering - Staffordshire University

Manufacturing Management & ISO Systems Management

Process Improvement Expertise (Lean & Six Sigma)

School of Social Enterprise ‘Social Entrepreneur’ & ‘Environmental Entrepreneur’ Fellow

Multiple funding award successes including SSE, UnLtd & TNLCF

Current Projects:

Community Health Champion (VAST)

Make It Happen - Virtual Nature Escapes (City of Stoke-on-Trent Council)

2 new co-created e-book publications for 2023 to add to our existing digital wellbeing library of 5 books (already published).

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

Virtual Nature Escapes/eBooks: https://human-nature.org.uk/virtual-nature-escapes/

15 Minute City Project (with Staffordshire University): https://human-nature.org.uk/15-minute-city/

Connect with me for...

becoming a co-creator/contributor to our photo/poetry ebooks

scaling digital social prescribing solutions

partnering or collaborating, especially if you have an interest in natural or heritage landscapes (green or blue spaces)

joint funding applications, or offers to sponsor/fund/commission our work

understanding more about the ‘ups & downs’ of starting a social enterprise here in North Staffs.

Contact Details and WWW:

WWW: www.human-nature.org.uk

Email: info@human-nature.org.uk

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This is the picture I took for one event profile and has ended up being used for just about everything.

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Current roles and Projects:

-Head of Cultural Partnerships at Age UK Oxon
-EDI Lead for Age England Association
-Age of Creativity Network/ Festival Lead
-Currently delivering Creative Later Life 2025

What has the Creative Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership programme meant for you?

The course came along at the perfect time and has added huge value to the day job.  I have met some amazing people who I continue to work with and I see this being an integral part of my delivery for the long-term.  Shout out for the amazing coaching I received too.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

To become the best leader I can be in the specialism that I love. Diversify my portfolio of work and take more creative risks when I can.

My website is: www.ageofcreativity and my contact is farrellrenowden@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk

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This is a picture of me doing some creative consultation with children at 'Kids Fentonia' event at Fenton Town Hall (part of my freelance job with Restoke)

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Nic Winstanley (Delivering Partner- Creative Lives)

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Nic Winstanley (Delivering Partner- Creative Lives)

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Current Roles and Projects:

West Midlands Development Officer- Creative Lives in England

Researcher and evaluator at Restoke, Claybody Theatre and Strike a Light

Freelance community artist

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
It has been a learning experience for me, and very rewarding to be part of the interesting conversations inspired by the module I wrote.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
I would tell them that Create Place is an ever expanding network of placemaking specialists from a diverse range of sectors, backgrounds and experiences. I'd recommend it to anyone who is trying to make change creatively where they live or work.

Future Aspirations and Plans:
I'd like to do more module writing and delivery- particularly on this programme!

Past Experience and Skills:

Developing networks of voluntary creatives- supporting their growth

Creative evaluation, research and consultation, especially around co-creation

community engaged art- particularly in the public realm

Current Projects:

Create Place: The Placemaking and Co-Creation Leadership Programme in North Staffordshire and Cheshire East  - https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/createplace

Lotus Eaters: Leading the research on the development of Restoke's adaptation of The Lotus Eaters, in collaboration with The National Theatre and Royal Holloway University London.

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

On Creative Walking: https://www.creative-lives.org/our-creative-lives-creative-walking

Connect with me for...

Info about Creative Lives- our networks and support for amateur and voluntary creatives

Further discussion about the Starting a Creative Collective Initiative module (Day 3)

Chat about commoning and co-creation

Contact Details and WWW:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VAEWMID

WWW: https://www.creative-lives.org/

Email: nicola@creative-lives.org nicolaw.artist@gmail.com

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This photo of me was taken at the Just So festival this summer. The festival is an annual event run by local partner and new NPO, Wild Rumpus.

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Current Roles and Projects:

Cultural Economy Development Manager for Cheshire East Council

Leading on Crewe and Local Cultural Education Partnership

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
Networking, building relationships and links with other creative and cultural leaders and practitioners, an excellent opportunity for reflective practice and learning.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
At work, we often don’t take enough time to stop, reflect, learn and connect. Create Place makes space to prioritise these.

Future Aspirations and Plans:.
Delivering my own projects independent of my day job and developing my own creative practice. Developing a new cultural manifesto for Macclesfield. Developing volunteer cultural cocreation scheme in Crewe.

Past Experience and Skills:

Creative learning, community engagement and youth development (within regional theatre, NPO, education and commercial)

Creative careers and skills development

Theatrical production

Cultural strategy

Fundraising

Current Projects:

·       Crewe’s new Local Cultural Education Partnership

·       Crewe Creative Champions – cultural community volunteering programme

·       Macclesfield Cultural Forum and Strategy

·       Independent small scale touring theatre performance

·       Local community arts project for International Women’s Day

Connect with me for...

Professionally, for arts & culture projects in Cheshire East.

Personally, for opportunities to support or engage with youth arts, creative careers, touring theatre and youth leadership outside Cheshire East. Looking to expand my out of hours and creative portfolio!

Contact Details and WWW:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-thomson-smith-8b072347/?originalSubdomain=uk

Email: lucy.thomson-smith@cheshireeast.gov.uk or l.thomson-smith@hotmail.co.uk

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Soaking up some West Midlands culture at the Commonwealth Games 2022 (Sport and creativity go hand in hand for me) 

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Current Roles and Projects:

Freelance Writer and Journalist

Creative Practise Specialist

Director of Independent Publishing Brands

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
It has been an amazing place to connect with more people, make new friends, and discover more about other creative practises and how that links into the history and future of creative industries. All of this has reinvigorated my creativity and passion for the sector.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
Do it! As a sector it can be so isolating and frustrating to look for funding and squash our own personal ideas, but this programme will enable you to take a step back, reflect on what you love, meet new people and learn new ideas, and send you forward with your well filled back up to the brim - all while giving you great knowledge and learning and new contacts to boot!

Future Aspirations and Plans:
I would love to get my eight part book series to publication and complete my PhD in that genre of fiction. I would hope this would lead to more speaking, mentoring, and teaching in the area of creative process. Maybe grow my newsletter into a creative podcast.

Past Experience and Skills:

Print and broadcast journalism

Marketing for creative organisations

Specialism in helping all art forms grow their own creative process

Specialism in imposter syndrome and how to get unstuck

Making your offerings neurodiverse inclusive

Current Projects:

Completing eight book series

Supporting local writers to find their own stories through National Novel Writing Month https://nanowrimo.org/

Growing freelance portfolio (below) including newsletters on creative practise and inspiration (below)

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

Newsletter for creative practise advice and artistic pep talks https://thearenacorner.substack.com/

Newsletter to inspire you to try new things and improve old ways through personal learnings https://neworimproved.substack.com/

Connect with me for...

Workshops for children or adults on how to grow their own inclusive creative process and overcome imposter syndrome

Mentoring or advice on how to immerse into your own creative practice again

Help with any creative marketing

If you have the capacity or contacts to help support a PhD

Contact Details and WWW:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-louise-walsh-5889a193/

WWW: https://gemmalouisewalsh.wordpress.com/

Email: Gemma.Louise.Walsh@gmail.com

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This is a picture of me in the remains of Betley Court (destroyed by fire in 2019 and currently being rebuilt) by Darren Washington for an upcoming article.

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Su Hurrell ('Ladybird Su' eco-artist & co-owner of Betley Court & Gardens)

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Su Hurrell ('Ladybird Su' eco-artist & co-owner of Betley Court & Gardens)

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Current Roles and Projects:

Freelance artist (Ladybird Su's Eco-caravan)

Artist-gardener for Appetite's Newcastle Common (2021-2)

Heritage & horticultural lead, Betley Court Gardens

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
For me, Create: Place was a great opportunity to take stock of my arts practice, as a mid-career artist. I met 'virtually' lots of practitioners, arts administrators and allied professionals. I particularly enjoyed the mentoring with a younger arts producer, Anneka, from XTRAX, that has opened my eyes to the field of outdoor arts, and gave me a valuable insight into what producers are looking for.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
Create: Place is a great way to connect with other creative professionals, and to make time to review your practice. It's helped me refocus and make time to go and see how other creatives work in similar areas.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

Develop Betley Court Gardens as a venue for small-scale arts events

Look at re-jigging Ladybird Eco-caravan to make attendance at events further afield possible

Past Experience and Skills:

Build-team member for 5 RHS medal-winning Show Gardens, and 1 Gardeners World Live

Designer of 2 Show Features for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

Creator of pop-up gardens for events and festivals since 2013, including Geronimo! RHS Flower Show, Etruria Festival (for B Arts), Barnaby Festival

Background in Contemporary Crafts

Horticultural qualifications include RHS Cert in Horticulture I & II, and HND in Garden Design

Current Projects:

Open Gardens programme for Betley Court Gardens www.betleycourtgardens.co.uk

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

Newcastle Common residencyLadybird Su’s Newcastle Common Diary #1 - Appetite

The blog for the restoration of Betley Court and its gardensDead Gardeners Society

Connect with me for...

If you are looking for an unusual heritage setting: partially rebuilt Georgian country house and its grounds

If you're looking for a pop-up garden for your event

You'd like Ladybird Su's Eco-caravan at your festival or would like an eco-themed workshop for your event

Contact Details and WWW:

Email: Sunnyorchard@btinternet.com

www.ladybirdsu.com

www.betleycourtgardens.co.uk

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Current Roles and Projects:

Co-Director of Company Carpi with composer Gary Lloyd

Freelance dance artist/practitioner

Freelance producer and event co-ordinator

Cheshire Dance board member

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?

It  has given me confidence and allowed me to learn to be a better co-creator, team player and facilitator. I loved meeting so many interesting artists, producers and creators and learning from everybody. I have met people that I will continue to stay in touch with on a professional and personal level.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
Just do it! You will learn so much about the creative and cultural industries, be taught by the most generous and knowledgable team and meet great people that are making positive changes to the creative and cultural landscape in Britain.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

Grow the company and create meaningful performance work that connects with people.

Create wok opportunities for young artists (especially dancers!)

Show the world the value and importance of dance!

Past Experience and Skills:

Dancer with CandoCo Dance Company

Dance Teacher, Lecturer and Facilitator

Facilitating dance projects in health & wellbeing contexts

Current Projects:
Fundraising for two Company Carpi projects:

When You Light A Candle You Also Cast A Shadow is a dance piece with live music and was created for gallery spaces and other intimate venues. The piece is a celebration of nature and a gorgeous warning about the state of our home.  https://www.companycarpi.com/when-you-light-a-candle

Disunited Jukebox, an anthology opera with dance about the precarious times we live in with a libretto written by a host of different authors, ranging from well-known names to emerging writers, young people and school kids!

Connect with me for...
....anything to do with dance! Or to have a chat....

Contact Details and WWW:
https://www.companycarpi.com/
bettinacarpi@hotmail.com

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WHEN YOU LIGHT A CANDLE... | companycarpi

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Performances in WARRINGTON MUSEUM & ART GALLERY 2022 and PETER SCOTT GALLERY LANCASTER ARTS 2021

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Current Roles and Projects:
Artist in residence at Erddig National Trust Wrexham.

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
A chance to learn more about what is going on in the sector, develop a wider network and to support each other to develop! So important!

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
It has been a great opportunity to think abut how I can become a creative leader supported by a network. The coaching has been really valuable to allow me to consider how to progress my practice and focus on the things that I want.

Future Aspirations and Plans:
Just made the move into a freelance career - looking to work firmly within the creative sector as a creative utilising skills around placemaking and co-creation to bring about exciting and contemporary projects.

Past Experience and Skills:
Community development / asset based community development / place based projects / timebased projects / utilising the day to day / working non hierarchically / collaborating as an artist group

Current Projects:
Artist in residence at Erddig National Trust:
Remote collective action happened throughout the dark hours on the longest night: https://calon.fm/news/a-long-embrace-with-the-dark-an-invitation-for-the-longest-night

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

Connect with me for...
collaborations, commissions, projects and working together / creative ways to think about and engage with place / anyone who would like to explore peer led coaching conversations to support practice (I trialled a full moon online session as part of Antiuniversity)

Contact Details and WWW:
jennycashmore@hotmail.com
https://www.jennycashmore.com

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Current Roles and Projects:

Freelance Cultural and Events Management

Director of The Ordinary Project CIC

Previously the Cultural Development Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Events and Communications Manager at Crewe Town council I have nearly 15 years’ experience of navigating a local authority environment. I’ve recently made the decision to take the plunge and move away from local authority life to further develop my practice within the cultural sector with a focus on participatory practice, co creation and community engagement.

What has the Create Place Placemaking, and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?

It’s been an opportunity to network and gain an improved insight into the range of practices and projects in creative placemaking.

Create Place provided an opportunity for me to stop, reflect and to re-evaluate the direction of my career.  It gave me the confidence to take the plunge and move away from local authority life to set up a CIC and explore freelance opportunities allowing me to further develop my practice within the cultural sector with a focus on participatory practice, co creation and community engagement.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?

Create Place is a great way to connect, network and build relationships with a wide variety of people from the creative sector.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to take the time to reflect on your own practice, to focus on what’s important to you, to explore and set new goals.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

To develop the Ordinary Project CiC with a focus on working with communities to create creative projects with co creation at their core.

To bring together communities and artists to uncover and tell hidden stories, create participatory opportunities new work.

To become freelance.

Past Experience and Skills:

Cultural Development Officer Stoke on Trent City Council.

Event and Communications Manager Stoke on Trent City Council.

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Ceramic Artist, Studio Owner and MA Ceramics Student at Staffordshire University (2nd year)

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Taken as I try to block the sun, waiting for the bus in Birmingham.

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Current Roles and Projects:

Creative Producer - Parrabbola (now working on The Pitsea Treasure Hoard with Creative Basildon!)

Freelance performer and facilitator

Manager - Solihull Empty Shop Gallery

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership program meant for you?
It's been an experiment in revamping my academic approach to community-based work. And! It's been so exciting to learn from my colleagues on the course about their influential, moving work and practices.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?
The ideas and learning I have been exposed to, and the tools and mentorship provided, have been key parts of my strategic work both as an individual and as a member of the creative industry who is working to enact positive change in our world.

Future Aspirations and Plans:
Produce and facilitate a global/local project, bringing small communities together across the world.
Also working on producing some international theatre pieces and performing/facilitating in interactive works both in and outside the UK.
Interested in joining a board of trustees!

Past Experience and Skills:

Production and project management with theatre companies and local government bodies

Street theatre, outdoor arts, and work in unconventional spaces

Community engagement and development / facilitation

Current Projects:

The Pitsea Treasure Hoard (Open Lab Pitsea - Creative Basildon): https://creativebasildon.co.uk/projects/open-lab/

FEAST: a play in one cooking (now booking)

Parrabbola Walkabouts (two interactive experiences now booking)

And the rest is silence... (Finnish collaboration in development)

Any press clippings, reviews, blogs you want to share:

PolishNews24 Review - 'a little patch of ground' with Everything to Everybody: https://polishnews24.com/co-laczy-tworczosc-williama-shakespearea-z-polska-spektakl-a-little-patch-of-ground/

Connect with me for...

anything theatrical!

facilitation and community engagement/development

outdoor and unconventional arts spaces

let's talk about glocalisation and how to make it happen

or if you're looking to book some theatre or interactive experiences, give me a shout!

Contact Details and WWW:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skylarmabry/

Info on Parrabbola: linktr.ee/parrabbola

Email: skylar.mabry@gmail.com

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Current Roles and Projects:

Founder and Director of The Community Cast

Digital creator

Podcast

Film

Writing

Research consultant

Community engagement

Freelance Journalist

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership Program meant for you?

Opportunity to learn, share best practice and grow network.

Idea creation

Widen creative practice

understanding of the diverse types of leadership and it potential, power and impact.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?

Give it a go

Great opportunity to broaden mind and perspective

It is a chance to learn and make new contacts

Past Experience and Skills:

MA Broadcast Journalism

Community Engagement

Research and Evaluation

Digital Media

Podcasting

Filming

Print journalism

Radio Journalism

Event planning

Social media management

Previously worked with:

Staffordshire University

The Beth Johnson Foundation

All the Small Things CiC

B-Arts

Support Staffordshire

BCB

Under One Roof

Baba Baboon media

Voices of Stoke

Expert Citizens

Walk Talk Action

SRS

BBC Radio (Journalism)

Reach Plc (Journalism)

Current Projects:

Youth Ambassador Podcast (for YMCA)

ReCast  Recovery Podcast (for Stoke Recovery Service and British Ceramics Biennial)

Creative, cultural , Heritage podcast for  Under One Roof

Contact Details and WWW:

www.thecommunitycast.com

Twitter: @community_cast
@adamcgratton

Instagram: @yourcommunitycast
@adamcgratton

Facebook: The Community Cast
Adam Gratton

Email: yourcommunitycast@gmail.com

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Lisa Knapper Creative Leader, Women in Business Co-Chair & Community Advocate

Current Roles and Projects:

Co-Chair, Women in Business

Change / Transformation Lead within Santander

Qualified Coach (Level 5)

Founder of a coaching community within Santander

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership programme meant for you?

Create Place has given me the space to fully bring together all parts of who I am, my creative practice, my community roots in Stoke-on-Trent, and my professional leadership experience.

As someone who has spent over 20 years performing as a musician and developing a visual art practice, creativity has always been how I connect, express, and understand the world. This programme has helped me recognise that this isn’t separate from my leadership, it is my leadership.

It has strengthened my belief that co-creation, storytelling, and creativity are powerful tools for connection and change, and has given me the confidence to show up more fully as a creative, people-centred leader.

What would you tell colleagues or friends you’d recommend Create Place to?

I’d describe Create Place as a unique programme that brings together leadership, creativity, and community in a really meaningful way.

It focuses on placemaking and co-creation, helping you understand how to shape spaces and experiences with people, not for them

It creates space to explore your creative identity, regardless of your background

You connect with a diverse group of people across sectors, building relationships that go beyond the programme

It encourages storytelling, reflection, and experimentation, not just traditional leadership thinking

It’s ideal for anyone who wants to lead with more authenticity, creativity, and purpose, especially if you care about people and place.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

My leadership journey is evolving towards roles where creativity, community impact, and strategic delivery meet.

I’m passionate about:

Bringing people together across sectors to make culture more accessible

Supporting communities to tell their own stories and celebrate their identity

Using creativity as a tool for confidence, connection, and wellbeing

I want to lead work that creates lasting impact, where people feel seen, heard, and part of something bigger.

Past Experience and Skills:

25+ years leading large-scale transformation in financial services

Expertise in co-creation, user-led design, and cultural change

Coaching and mentoring (Level 5 qualified)

Strong stakeholder engagement across complex environments

Designing and delivering programmes that centre lived experience and inclusion

Building communities and networks (Women in Business, coaching community)

Creative Strengths and Artistic Qualities:

Musician performing for over 20 years with Soul Devotion and Disco Divas

Visual artist specialising in ink and drawing

Deep belief in everyday creativity as a tool for expression and connection

Skilled in storytelling and creative facilitation, bringing ideas and people to life

Experience delivering arts-based wellbeing sessions, including trauma-informed creative spaces

Strong connection to heritage, identity, and place, particularly within Stoke-on-Trent

Current Projects:

Women in Business – driving engagement, development, and inclusion initiatives

Santander Global transformation and change programmes

Creative and community-based initiatives supporting wellbeing and connection

Connect with me for…

Conversations about Create Place, creativity, or community impact

Coaching or mentoring

Collaboration on cultural or people-focused initiatives

Exploring how creativity can be embedded into leadership and change

Contact Details:

LinkedIn: Lisa Knapper | LinkedIn

Email: Lisa@knapper.net

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Cultural connector and knowledge broker

Urbanism, Architecture, History

Local and global perspectives on North Staffordshire

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-brown-72994616/

martinbrown473@gmail.com

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Charlotte on stage as the Chair of Science March Brussels in 2017

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Current Roles and Projects:

Freelance public engagement and involvement consultant

Working on the boundaries between science, social science and the arts

Offers evaluation, mentoring, co-production, strategising and inclusion support

What has the Create Place Placemaking and Co-creation Leadership programme meant for you?

The programme has been an invaluable space for me to really dive into thinking about how I can apply my skills in North Staffs and South Cheshire. I've been able to connect with like-minded professionals, build meaningful connections, and begin to understand my locality so much more. It has also allowed me space to work on bringing the disparate aspects of my professional identity together somewhat... My career has been somewhat opportunistic; I've moved from science to museums, to public engagement and done my doctoral studies along the way. But in Create Place all those elements were valued and welcome, and I left with names for my mixed identity, whether that be a community engaged scientist or science creative.

What would you tell colleagues/friends who you would recommend Create Place to?

Create Place is a chance to be introduced to or update your knowledge of key heritage, digital and cocreation principles. You'll get to reflect on your personal practice and your wider working environment. And you'll meet some amazing, creative, thought-provoking people along the way.

Future Aspirations and Plans:

I've left the course with several goals for myself, namely:

to put on some sort of science/arts event in the area, potentially in partnership with B-Arts, with a goal to building this over time.

to create a South Cheshire and North Staffordshire (SCANS?) public engagement professionals or science communication network, or both.

to go to more things! There's so, so much going on locally, and Stoke should be so proud of what's here.

Past Experience and Skills:

Mixed-methods researcher exploring culture change and lived experience e.g. https://www.rsc.org/policy-and-campaigning/science-culture/the-workplace-for-lgbt-physical-scientists

Evaluator for a range of engagement projects e.g. https://www.sunspaceart.org/sun-space-art-workshops-and-talks/sun-space-art-evaluation/

https://www.blueheart.org.uk/getinvolved/

Leadership and mentoring for engagement professionals or early career researchers e.g. https://gurukula.co.uk/leadership https://www.bath.ac.uk/projects/inclusive-leadership-for-public-engagement/

Training and coaching for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging for anyone working in engagement e.g. Inclusive Activities and planning for inclusion toolkits for Being Human https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/resources/toolkits

Connect with me for...

Making things happen. Thinking intersectionally. Someone to learn alongside. A safe person to talk things through with! There are no stupid questions, especially when it comes to science or EDIB. I'm interested in EVERYTHING, which has it's downsides, but it also means I can help you join the dots. Want to put more science in your circus? Great. Need to understand the impact you might be having? I'm there.

Contact details and WWW:

Email charlottethorley@gmail.com

www.charlottethorley.com (although this is well in need of an overhaul)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottethorley/

@cprthorley on socials

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A head and shoulders image of Charlotte. She is a smiling round faced white woman with curly hair and glasses, wearing a yellow raincoat and black sparkly scarf. 