Who is involved

The Voice Project, Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Photos: JMA Photography

What Next? is a movement shaped by the people who take part in it. It brings together people from across the breadth of the UK’s cultural ecology, from freelancers and independent practitioners to those working in small and large cultural organisations in a wide variety of roles.

We also build relationships beyond the cultural sector, inviting different perspectives and expertise into our conversations. Regular attendees and contributors include civil servants, people working in academia, education and local government.

The movement is supported by our network of regional Chapters and Chapter Chairs, our Leadership Group, Directors and a small core team, who each play different but connected roles in shaping and sustaining What Next?.

Our Chapters across the UK are pivotal to what we are about.

Our regional Chapters are at the heart of the What Next? movement. They create spaces for people to connect, build relationships and explore the issues affecting arts and culture in their place.

Our volunteer Chapter Chairs convene these local networks, bringing knowledge of their local cultural ecology and helping to connect local experience with the wider movement. Chapter Chairs also come together regularly to share learning, identify emerging issues and strengthen connections across the UK.

You can find details of local Chapters on the Chapters Page.

Also, the What Next? Leadership Group of advisors, that meet regularly.

What Next? Leadership Group –  See biographies

Our Leadership Group helps shape the strategic direction, thinking and practice of What Next?. It brings together people with different roles, expertise, lived experience and geographical perspectives from across the UK’s cultural ecology.

Working alongside our Directors and core team, the Leadership Group provides insight, challenge and advice, helping us test our thinking, consider different perspectives and respond to the changing needs of the cultural sector.

The Leadership Group is advisory rather than representative; its strength lies in bringing a breadth of perspectives and experience to the movement.

What Next? Leadership Group –  See biographies

  • Jamie Beddard, Co-Artistic Director Diverse City
  • Lora Krasteva – Founder of Global Voices Theatre and Freelancer
  • Alexandrina Hemsley – Freelance Creative Practitioner and Consultant
  • Dan de la Motte – Freelance as Producer, Curator, Performer and Activist
  • Alison Clark – Director of Culture, Visitor Economy and Sport, East Midlands Combined Authority
  • Rosie Johnston-Luff – Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google UK (Political Advisor to What Next? )
  • Elizabeth Lynch MBE – What Next? Wandsworth, Freelance Arts Advisor, Leadership coach and Arts Emergency Mentor.
  • Leila D’aronville – What Next? Newcastle and Gateshead, Freelancer, North East Cultural Freelancers
  • Dave O’Brien – Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries, University of Manchester
  • Lilli Geissendorfer – Director of Strategy, Glass Castle Foundation
  • Jeanie Scott – Director, Culture Radar
  • Reyahn King – Freelance Consultant, Exec Director Touring Exhibitions Group, Facilitator and Executive Coach

Our Directors are responsible for the governance and oversight of our limited company What Next? Culture Ltd, working with the Leadership Group and core team to support the movement’s strategic direction and sustainability.

  • Suzanne Alleyne, Creative Strategist and leader of Neurology of Power, Director of What Next? Culture Lt
  • Kate McGrath – Director, Fuel and Director of What Next? Culture Ltd
  • Holly Lombardo – Development Director, Tysers Live, Director, World Fringe and Director of What Next? Culture Ltd
  • Clare Thurman, What Next? Director and National Movement Lead clarethurman@gmail.com
  • Lizzie Crump, What Next? Director and Strategic Lead  lizzie@whatnextculture.co.uk

Our Core Team – a small freelance team provides regular part-time support to coordinate and sustain the movement, working across our UK-wide programme, Chapters, partnerships, communications and organisational development.

Our work is made possible with the generous support of Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England, and the organisations and individuals from the sector who donate to What Next?.

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