Medway’s campaign to be UK City of Culture 2025 has taken another significant step forward, with the announcement of the bid’s Board of Trustees and community Working Group Chairs.
In the year that Medway submits its application to be the UK’s next City of Culture, the campaign has announced the appointment of twelve individuals to lead the bid, which sits as part of Medway’s ambitious new ten year cultural strategy.
Chaired by Jatin Patel and Deidre Wells OBE, the Board of Trustees brings together community members with individuals from business, education, creative, local government and heritage backgrounds from across Medway and Kent to deliver Medway’s ambition.
The development of the bid will be supported by the Creative Medway Cultural Compact, the radical new community led delivery model for Medway’s recently launched cultural strategy. In addition, the bid brings together over 60 people of all ages from the area in working groups supporting the development of the bid’s ambition, strategy and ideas.
The UK City of Culture 2025 competition is expected to be announced later this year, with the bid submission and judging processes expected to take place over the course of 2021.
The Trustees are:
- Jatin Patel (Co-Chair) Fashion designer, Creative Director at Chatham-based Kalikas Armour, a University College of the Arts Rochester alumnus and industry change-maker. Jatin has also played a key role in shaping Medway’s new cultural strategy.
- Deirdre Wells OBE (Co-Chair) CEO of Visit Kent, Chair of English Tourism Week and Tourism Society and Tourism Alliance Board member. Deirdre brings experience working on high-profile projects including the Millennium Dome, Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008 and the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Keely Augustus Artistic Director and CEO at Lyrici Arts amplifying Black and diverse stories in Medway.
- Simon Cook Principal and CEO of MidKent College, Medway Place Board Chair and former chef.
- Bill Ferris OBE Former CEO of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Visit Kent Chair and National Heritage Lottery Fund Committee Member.
- Richard Hicks Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive at Medway Council.
- Tina Lovey CEO at Rivermead Inclusive Multi-Academy Education Trust and champion of young people.
- Sir David Melville CBE Former University of Kent Vice-Chancellor, Policy Connect Board Member and Higher Education Commissioner.
- Michael Olyar Theatre student and hip-hop artist.
- David Sefton University of Kent Institute of Culture and Creative Industries Director, former Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival.
- Natasha Steer Creative practitioner, founder of Creatabot and social inclusion champion