The Team
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Lucy Thomson-Smith
Executive Director
Lucy comes from a background in cultural strategy and creative learning, previously founding the Creative Learning department at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe. Her experience also includes working within local authority, education outreach, theatre in education and careers education, information and guidance.
Lucy also serves as a trustee for youth charity, RicNic, is an advisory member of Crewe Creates CIC and is a Create Place fellow.
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Iain Perry
Programme Director
Iain Perry has a rich background in the arts and education sectors, having worked with the Creative Partnerships programme in Stoke and Staffordshire since 2007. He has freelanced on projects like the British Ceramics Biennial and Pocket Film Festival and is also a printmaker and collage artist.
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Sarah Bonam
Operations Manager
Sarah Bonam has over twenty years of experience in creative production, festival and event management, public realm installations, and arts operations. She is a partner in Letting in the Light, a participatory arts organization, and works as a freelance Arts and Heritage consultant, advocating for accessible creative opportunities for all.
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Laurence O'Keefe
Finance Administrator
Laurence has over twenty years’ experience of working in a wide variety of settings, from marketing, publishing and copywriting to logistics and more. In 2021 he joined the Stoke & North Staffordshire Cultural Education Partnership to help them work towards their goal of ensuring that all children and young people have access to high-quality arts experiences. Laurence thinks that participation in fun and innovative creative activities should be available to all.
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Jess Hollingworth
Programme Co-ordinator
Jess has a passion for Community Arts and has experience developing creative sessions and events.
She is the founder and owner of Divinity Well-being & Fitness and runs Divinity Studio, a well-being studio located in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
In addition to her work in well-being and fitness, Jess is also a freelance performer and flow prop artist.
The Board
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Erica Love
Non-Executive Director and Co-Chair
Erica started with Creative Partnerships in 2005 and became Executive Director of PiCL in 2012, developing numerous funded programmes. She served on the Appetite consortium and was its Director in 2019. Currently, she is the Chief Executive at Culture Central and continues as a non-exec director at PiCL. Erica advocates for the transformative power of culture, especially for young people.
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Natalie Armitage
Board Member
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Helen Morgan
Board Member
Helen is a Secondary Head of Photography, Art Teacher, and Artist in Stoke on Trent with over 20 years of experience in education. Her diverse artistic practice includes silver, clay, photography, print, and willow. Helen is part of the 'Clay Comrades' collective and has held senior leadership roles in education, contributing significantly to the Stoke and North Staffordshire Cultural Education Partnership.
Associate Creative Practitioners
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Kirsty Cotton
Youth Leadership and Youth Forum Lead
Kirsty is the director of Kreative Foundations, an alternative education and community development company in Stoke-on-Trent. She leads our Creative Youth Leaders and Youth Forum programme, focusing on well-being, community engagement, and environmental issues.
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Kirsty Hillyer
Creative Evaluation Consultant
Kirsty Hillyer is a Creative Evaluator and Researcher with nearly 20 years of experience in participatory arts. She has worked with diverse groups, including children, adults with disabilities, and older adults with dementia. Her company, We Are Frilly, uses creative methods to enhance evaluation, promoting inclusion and accessibility to encourage people to share their opinions confidently.
Kirsty Hillier website -
Sally Fitchard
Sally Fitchard is an award-winning sculptor based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. A graduate of Staffordshire Polytechnic, she specializes in clay and human figures. Sally's work explores the nuances of life, presence, and emotion through form, expression, and gesture. Her sculptures, both single and multi-piece, play with scale, texture, and the raw materiality of clay, rarely using glaze to emphasize its earthy qualities.
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Alice Thatcher
Alice Thatcher is a ceramic artist based in Stoke-on-Trent. Her practice centers on community, clay, people, and place. Alice believes in the connections forged through ceramic processes and is passionate about using clay as a tool for conversation and engagement.
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Jenni Spangler
Jenni Spangler is a children's author by purpose and illustrator by accident. She creates spooky and funny middle-grade books from her studio in the historic Spode pottery factory. When not creating, she runs confidence-building workshops to help others find their creative voices. Her publications include The Vanishing Trick, Valentine Crow and Mr Death.
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Rumbi Savanhu
Rumbi Savanhu is an illustrator based in Birmingham, UK. She works on various commissions including editorial, children's illustration, healthcare, and charities, and is an alumna of the Pathways Into programme. Known for her distinctive and bold use of colour, Rumbi's work is bright and vibrant. She spends most of her time drawing people, listening to music, and researching for her next exciting project.
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Kat Hughes
Kat Hughes is a producer and director from the border of Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire, with a decade of experience working with communities in the Midlands and North West. She has directed youth theatre at the New Vic Theatre, co-founded Potboiler Theatre, and achieved success with untrained young actors, notably with The Sad Club by Luke Barnes for National Theatre Connections. Her work aims to bring people together to explore contradictions and similarities, offering new perspectives with humour and warmth.
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Mark Riley
Mark is a Community Artist and Creative Practitioner, and has worked in a variety of settings with diverse participants and partners, including schools, children’s centres schools, playcare and within the community.
He is also trained as an Arts Award Assessor and Forest School Leader Leader.