Welcome to the Cultural Tides Conference

Welcome & Housekeeping
Thank you for joining us today to discuss Hull’s contribution to culture and creativity in the north, as well as kick starting the conversation on a new city-wide cultural strategy.
Hull-based arts, cultural, voluntary, community, education and business sector organisations with interest in the cultural ambition of the city are here to learn from eachother, aswell as our speakers and panelists.
Following today’s event, the evening will a see celebration of maritime heritage with a large-scale public event. A flaming torch-lit procession featuring 500 community volunteers will make its way from Hull Minster to Hull Marina, where audiences will enjoy a spectacular performance of The Tower of Light – transforming Hull into a magical theatre of pyrotechnics, performance and music.
Agenda
Registration & Refreshments (09:30 – 10:15)
Welcome & Housekeeping from Kate Genever (10:15 – 10:20)
Introduction from Councillor Mike Ross, Leader, Hull City Council (10:20 – 10:35)
Professor John Holden discusses Cultural Ecologies (10:35 – 11:20)
Panel 1: Culture & Place + Q&A (11:20 – 12:35)
Break (12:35 – 13:30)
Panel 2: Large-Scale Initiatives + Q&A (13:45 – 15:00)
Panel 3: Supporting Cities + Q&A (15:00 – 16:15)
Voice of Hull (16:15 – 16:45)
Thank You from Councillor Rob Pritchard, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure (16:45 – 17:00)
Networking (17:00 – 18:30)
Parade to The Tower of Light (18:45 – 19:30)
Tower of Light (19:30 – 20:00)
Meet the speakers
Kate Genever
Kate Genever is an artist who has been working on an ever growing commission in West Hull, in particular the Docklands area, otherwise known as HU3 since 2018. Outcomes from this work includes the community developed and created Encyclopedia of Us Newspaper.”In places, over extended periods, I consider how we improvise and imagine in response to our immediate problems. I build deep connections with under-represented, isolated and often misunderstood people, in the celebration and support of DIY responses and community actions. I use process-led principles and advocate for strength based co-production approaches – often working in collaboration with organisations, researchers and curators. Outcomes are diverse and utilise varied materials and techniques.I am experienced at challenging and disrupting thinking and supporting people to reflect on or activate change.”

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader, Hull City Council
Councillor Mike Ross came to Hull over 23 years ago to study at the University of Hull. Like so many people he fell in love with the city and made his home here.
Mike has been a City Councillor since 2002, leader of the Liberal Democrat group since 2015 and Leader of the City Council following the Liberal Democrat election victory in 2022.
During Liberal Democrats’ previous administration (2006-2011), Mike held various portfolio responsibilities. While in opposition Mike also chaired the scrutiny committee responsible for scrutinising the Council’s finances.
Mike enjoys spending time with his family, watching sport and exploring the outdoors!

Professor John Holden
John Holden is a former Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds and at City University, London, an Honorary Professor of Hong Kong University, and an Associate at the think-tank Demos. He is the author of many works,
including The Ecology of Culture, Publicly Funded Culture and the Creative Industries, Capturing Cultural Value and Democratic Culture, and is co-author of Cultural Diplomacy and The Cultural Leadership Handbook. John is a regular keynote speaker in the UK, the rest of Europe, North America, Asia, and Australasia. He has worked directly with cultural organisations from small community venues to national museums and performing arts companies. He is a former Trustee of the Clore Leadership Programme and the Hepworth Wakefield, and has served on various Committees including at the Royal Opera House, the Design Museum, Oxford University, and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Panel 1: Culture & Place
Laura Dyer
Laura Dyer MBE leads on the growing agenda around local government, devolution and place-making, as well as overall leadership of all five of the Arts Council’s area teams.
Before joining the Arts Council, Laura was Chief Executive of East Midlands Arts Board. Until 2010, when she became Executive Director Midlands and South West, she held the post of Executive Director, East Midlands.
During her time in the East Midlands, Laura led a capital development programme which transformed the region’s cultural landscape, with a total investment of over £130 million creating six new arts and cultural facilities.
After postgraduate studies at Essex University, Laura started her career in the arts in a number of theatre and community arts companies before moving into large outdoor events programming at the Garden Festival Wales. She went on to work for local authorities in Norfolk and London.
Laura joined the Arts Council in 2003. She is a member of our Executive Board.

Merlijn Poolman
Merlijn Poolman started his career with organising metal shows and tours, but after founding a nightclub (Subsonic, Groningen) in 2011 he gradually got more involved into the world of dance music. In 2018 he became the Night Mayor of the Dutch city of Groningen and in that role structurally worked on the link between the government, the club venue owners and (most important) the party people themselves. As leader of the Groningen Night Council, member of the Dutch Popcoalitie (advisory board to the government) and former European Music Council fellow-member Merlijn loves to balance between the formal policy making and the raw underground music culture that formed his career.
After his first visit to China in 2014 he went there 13 times in total with cultural exchanges in the music business as main goal. In the same year he organised his first Yin Yang music festival taking place at the Great Wall of China and in 2017 organised and funded the first China Pavilion Conference during Amsterdam Dance Event. In 2018 these developments led to setting up a service called Gateway2 China, that offers Chinese social media accounts and content creation to Western artists.
Currently in The Netherlands with COSIMO Foundation he and his partners aim to raise more funding for cultural projects and in this process COSIMO creates matches with the business world and the cultural sectors. Out of innovative use of tax incentives, instead of the usual governmental culture budgets, this new form of project funding leads to a structural increase of projects that were difficult to produce before since they aspire to create cultural impact rather than profit.
Favourite quote: “A good idea is formed with a beer at night and worked out with a coffee during the day”

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE
Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL has been at the helm of The Piece Hall since 2017, overseeing the Trust’s vision to make this iconic building a world class visitor experience using heritage, trade and culture to help preserve this precious asset for generations to come.
Under her leadership an outstanding arts, culture and community events programme has been implemented including a 5-year deal with promoters to bring global music stars to The Piece Hall.
Nicky and has overseen growth in visitor numbers to almost 3 million each year with the organisation described as an example of “Levelling Up” in action.
She is a commissioner of ‘No Place Left Behind’, is Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Culture, Heritage, and Sport Committee and Co-Chair of Calderdale Year of Culture 2024.
Prior to The Piece Hall Nicky had a multi award-winning career in media, marketing and advertising before moving on to deliver major Government infrastructure programs – specialising in regeneration.
In 2023 Nicky was recognised with an MBE in King Charles’ first birthday honours list, she has been a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire since 2019, crowned Yorkshire Businesswoman of the Year and was also awarded a place on the highly regarded Northern Power Women’s Power List. Nicky has also received the IOD Judges Special Award in recognition of her achievements.
Louise Yates (Chair)
Louise started her career as an actor and performing arts teacher with a passion for engaging young people in the Arts. She managed the region’s largest youth arts organisation, Creative Connexions Humber, before becoming Arts Development officer at Hull City Council.
At Hull City Council Louise became involved in the UK City of Culture 2017 bid, her experience of engaging hard to reach communities leading to the role of Producer on the Back to Ours Festival and year-long Land of Green Ginger project. Throughout the delivery year Louise focused her work in communities, programming circus in school sports halls and atriums, famous indie bands in shopping centres and Secret Gigs into working men’s clubs.
As CEO and Artistic Director of Back to Ours her vision coupled with her distinct invitation and ingredients have sparked a real connection with residents in Hull. Having developed a strong brand with a voice that’s warm and welcoming, Louise transitioned Back to Ours from being a project to an independent charity and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, that continues to delight new and existing audiences.

Panel 2: Large-Scale Initiatives
Claire McColgan CBE
Claire is responsible for Culture Liverpool, Marketing Liverpool, Business Liverpool, City Halls, Cruise, Film Office and Tourist Information at Liverpool City Council and recently delivered an unparalleled Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.
Claire is a national and international advisor and speaker on best practice in Culture acting for Arts Council England and Ireland, the British Council, Local Government Association and represented the UK in Thailand, Brazil and China. Claire was a Director on the Board of Derry/Londonderry the inaugural City of Culture program and was chosen by Karen Bradley, then Secretary of State as the UK expert for the 2022 European Capital of Culture competition.
Claire delivered the Event Research Programme which opened the first night club, festival and business event following lockdown and for which she was awarded her CBE in 2023, was Liverpool’s lead on the Government Events Research Programme and was appointed Deputy Chair for UK City of Culture Competition 2025
Claire was awarded the CBE in 2023 for achievements and services to culture and arts across the country.

Ruth Hollis
Ruth is Chief Executive of Spirit of 2012, a charitable trust set up in 2013 with £47 million by the National Lottery Community Fund to invest in projects which continue the pride, positivity and inspiration of the London 2012 Games and the way it helped people feel better about themselves, others and their communities. She has been with Spirit since it was founded and became Chief Executive in 2019. Over the past 10 years Spirit of 2012 has used the momentum of events, starting with the London 2012 Games, and including both Commonwealth Games and Hull and Coventry Cities of Culture as catalysts for social change, to inspire and create more permanent legacies, engaging more than 80,000 people across the UK in activities and creating 60,000 volunteering opportunities. In 2021 Spirit published an Inquiry into the Power of Events setting out 5 recommendations for to help the UK delivery world-class long term impacts from events as well as delivering world class events.
Ruth is dedicated to providing opportunities and improving outcomes for young people. She is chair of a multi-academy trust that includes 10 schools across Norfolk, Suffolk and Peterborough.

Kully Thiarai
Kully Thiarai is currently Creative Director and CEO of Leeds 2023 – the city’s international year of culture. Having worked with prestigious arts organisations across the UK, Kully is renowned for her bold and ground-breaking work in the performing arts. She has extensive experience of commissioning, producing, and directing work nationally and internationally. Kully’s work spans communities, cultures and performance styles; from large-scale epics to solo shows, from community residency programmes to strategic policy interventions, from nurturing talent through to leading change.
Her previous roles include: Artistic Director/Chief Executive of National Theatre Wales; founding Director of Cast in Doncaster; Artistic Director of Leicester Haymarket Theatre; Artistic Director/Chief Executive of Contact Theatre Manchester, Theatre Writing Partnership and Red Ladder Theatre Company. She has held numerous roles as a Trustee and Chair and currently is a Trustee of National Theatre of Scotland, The Arts Foundation, Chair of Paines Plough and a member of the West Yorkshire Business Board. She is Honorary Fellow of Central School of Speech and Drama.
In 2020 Kully won the Cultural Icon Award in the inaugural Northern Asian power list.

Janthi Mills-Ward (Chair)
Janthi Mills-Ward has been the Executive Director/Co-CEO of Hull Truck Theatre since August 2013. During this time, she has dramatically improved the theatre’s resilience through developing the organisation’s business model – balancing the theatre’s producing work alongside a programme of visiting and community productions. Janthi is on the board of UK Theatre and 509 Arts and is the Vice Chair of HEY Creative. She has previously worked in several other regional producing theatres, including The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and Derby Playhouse.

Panel 3: Supporting Cities
Erika Clark
Erika Clark is the Creative Programme Manager working within Culture & Tourism in Belfast City Council. She worked on development of the city’s innovative new cultural strategy A City Imagining 2020-30, led on the city’s UNESCO City of Music bid from 2019, Belfast was awarded the designation in 2021. More recently Erika leading the Belfast 2024 project for Council, Belfast’s most ambitious cultural and creative programme happening throughout the city this year. Prior to her time in Council Erika worked as a Creative Producer and Project Manager in the cultural sector and creative industries working a variety of programmes across theatre, visual arts, festivals, music, TV & Film.

Dr Matthias Rauch
Matthias Rauch, Dr. phil., studied American Studies, Business Administration and Communications at the University of Mannheim. From 2007-2010, he was a stipend in the graduate program „Formations of the Global“ at the University of Mannheim and visiting research fellow at York University, Toronto, in 2010. He has been lecturing at the University of Mannheim, the SRH Hochschule Heidelberg & Popakademie Baden-Württemberg. Matthias Rauch has worked as a freelance journalist for print and online publications for over 20 years. From March 2013 until October 2014, he was head of press & public relations at the Clustermanagement Musikwirtschaft Mannheim & Region. From 2014 until 2016, he was head of the Clustermanagement Musikwirtschaft. From January 2017 until 2020, he was cultural innovation officer and head of the cultural urban development department at NEXT Mannheim. Since 2021, he has been head of cultural innovation & creative economy at NEXT Mannheim. He was vice chairman of the association for music business and music culture research (GMM e.V.) from 2014 – 2018. Since June 2020, he has been speaker of the regional group Rhine-Neckar of the Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft e.V. He initiated and conceptualized the first night mayor position in Germany for the City of Mannheim. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at national and international conferences on the topics of cultural and urban innovation, cultural urban development, night culture, creativity and the cultural & creative industries.

David Wilson
Professor David Wilson is an expert advisor to the UK Commission to UNESCO on the development of creative cities and has provided mentoring and support to many candidate cities applying to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network over the past decade.
David has a long career history in cultural programmes and in depth knowledge in the use of culture and creativity as a driver for sustainable development in relation to the UN 2030 Agenda and practical application of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

James Dickinson (Chair)
James Dickinson began learning the French horn with the Hull Music Service and subsequently played in National Youth Orchestra and attended the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music. He read music at Oxford University (Lady Margaret Hall) and then worked as an orchestral manager and taught brass. After a spell as a mastering studio manager, he left music and became marketing manager of two IT companies before becoming Projects & Activities Manager for Hertfordshire Music Service in 2003. He became Head of Hertfordshire Music Service in 2007, winning three Diplomas of Merit from the National Music Council under his leadership.
James was Federation of Music Services / Music Mark Eastern Regional Convenor 2012-16 and was elected as a Music Mark Trustee in 2016 and was Chair 2017-2023. In October 2018, life came full circle when James succeeded Chris Maynard as Head of Hull Music Service, Lead Partner for Hull & North-East Lincolnshire Music Hub. Based in the purpose build Albemarle Music Centre in the heart of the City, he and his team are committed to “putting music at the heart of Hull.” Hull Music Service is gaining a national reputation its approach to music education, enjoying a strong relationship with the City’s schools and an ever growing network of partner organisations. James is a Trustee of Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Yorkshire Young Musicians and lives in Hull.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure
Councillor Rob Pritchard is the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure for Hull City Council. He loves the arts in all its forms, and feels privileged to be feels honoured to live and work in Hull, where he gets to meet amazing people from around the city and beyond. He has a passion for his city and loves being involved in making it a better place to live. Rob has had a varied career, from starting out working in retail, working as a nurse, bank clerk, chief officer of several voluntary and community organisations, and now a City Councillor.

Generation Hull
Generation Hull is the city’s Local Cultural Education Partnership, bringing together partners from the arts, health and education sectors, to improve creative opportunities for children and young people.

Ecology of Culture John Holden
Networking at Trinity Market
Come and join us for a casual gathering to engage in vibrant conversations about the conference. Connect with fellow attendees, speakers, and colleagues amidst the lively atmosphere of Trinity Market, complemented by delightful street food and live music.


