• 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

• Co-Director of The Portland Inn Project and AirSpace Gallery
• Co-Lead of Create Place
• Associate Professor of Fine Art and Social Practice

• 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

• 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

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

• 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

• Creative Producer (maternity cover) for In Good Company 
• Associate Producer, Best of Enemies (West End) 
• Board member, Young Arts Fundraisers 

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

• 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

• 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.

• 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

• 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).

• 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/

• 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.

• WWW: www.human-nature.org.uk
• Email: info@human-nature.org.uk

• West Midlands Development Officer- Creative Lives in England
• Researcher and evaluator at Restoke, Claybody Theatre and Strike a Light
• Freelance community artist

• 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

• 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. 

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

• 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

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VAEWMID
• WWW: https://www.creative-lives.org/
• Email: nicola@creative-lives.org nicolaw.artist@gmail.com

• Creative learning, community engagement and youth development (within regional theatre, NPO, education and commercial)
• Creative careers and skills development
• Theatrical production 
• Cultural strategy
• Fundraising

• 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

• Freelance Writer and Journalist 
• Creative Practise Specialist 
• Director of Independent Publishing Brands 

• 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 

• 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) 

• 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/

• 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 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-louise-walsh-5889a193/
• WWW: https://gemmalouisewalsh.wordpress.com/ 
• Email: Gemma.Louise.Walsh@gmail.com 

• Freelance artist (Ladybird Su's Eco-caravan)
• Artist-gardener for Appetite's Newcastle Common (2021-2)
• Heritage & horticultural lead, Betley Court Gardens

• 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

• 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

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

• Newcastle Common residencyLadybird Su’s Newcastle Common Diary #1 - Appetite
• The blog for the restoration of Betley Court and its gardensDead Gardeners Society

• 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

• Email: Sunnyorchard@btinternet.com
• www.ladybirdsu.com
• www.betleycourtgardens.co.uk

• Co-Director of Company Carpi with composer Gary Lloyd
• Freelance dance artist/practitioner
• Freelance producer and event co-ordinator
• Cheshire Dance board member

• 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!

• Dancer with CandoCo Dance Company
• Dance Teacher, Lecturer and Facilitator
• Facilitating dance projects in health & wellbeing contexts

• 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!

• Creative Producer - Parrabbola (now working on The Pitsea Treasure Hoard with Creative Basildon!)
• Freelance performer and facilitator
• Manager - Solihull Empty Shop Gallery

• 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

• 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)

• 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/

• 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!

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skylarmabry/ 
• Info on Parrabbola: linktr.ee/parrabbola
• Email: skylar.mabry@gmail.com

• Founder and Director of The Community Cast
• Digital creator
• Podcast
• Film
• Writing
• Research consultant
• Community engagement
• Freelance Journalist

• 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.

• Give it a go
• Great opportunity to broaden mind and perspective
• It is a chance to learn and make new contacts

• MA Broadcast Journalism
• Community Engagement
• Research and Evaluation
• Digital Media
• Podcasting
• Filming
• Print journalism
• Radio Journalism
• Event planning
• Social media management

• 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)

• Youth Ambassador Podcast (for YMCA)
• ReCast  Recovery Podcast (for Stoke Recovery Service and British Ceramics Biennial)
• Creative, cultural , Heritage podcast for  Under One Roof

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

• 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