About Us

The Arts Active Trust is an independent charitable trust supporting people to enjoy the arts  through its programme of creative, participatory activities based in Cardiff and the surrounding areas.

Our Vision

Through an inclusive and accessible programme of artistic activities and opportunities that benefit a diverse range of people and communities, we want our work to support a deeper learning, community empowerment, enhanced living, improved wellbeing, extended horizons and improved life outcomes.

Mission

To engage our local communities with initiatives and activities that invigorate the imagination and stimulate the soul. Encourage people of all ages, to engage in and enjoy arts activities whilst providing accessible, local, transformative arts-led learning experiences.

What We Do

We deliver a bold programme of creative activities for all our communities across Cardiff and the South Wales region, with particular emphasis on young people and vulnerable underrepresented groups. A key role beyond delivering activity is to support and signpost people to opportunities to engage in creative activities. We see the value in all levels of creative engagement as a driver for both participation and creative production of the arts in Wales, but also the future health and wellbeing of our community as audiences, active supporters, leaders of and stakeholders in this crucial aspect of Welsh identity and cultural life.

Who We Are

  • Bryony Harris

    Community, Learning and Partnerships Manager based at St David’s Hall and Director of the Arts Active programme and Secretary of the Arts Active Trust

    I oversee the creative and business development of Arts Active, along with delivering the vision and work of the Arts Active Trust. My background is history of art, art, and english. As a child I was a committed ballet dancer but dreams of becoming a swan were scuppered in my teens by ill health. This was when I discovered for myself how creativity can be the scaffolding for one’s overall well-being and sense of identity. 

  • Rhian Workman

    Deputy Community, Learning and Partnerships Manager based at St David’s Hall.

    I work alongside Bryony Harris to devise, programme and run the arts active projects. My background is in music as a performer, teacher and workshop leader and I am passionate about making the arts available and accessible for all.

  • Suzanne Smart

    Community, Learning and Partnerships Assistant based at St David’s Hall

    I am involved in organising and ensuring the smooth running of a range of projects including Soundworks, Open Orchestra, Young Composers and Tiddly Prom. I also provide general support to the whole team, helping out where required. Occasionally, I even get to throw my skills as a musician into the mix, which is great fun!

  • Tom Goddard

    Freelance Project Producer for Criw Celf

    I’m a visual artist from Cardiff, Wales and work at the cross-section of creative practice and education, with recent work exploring the effect of digital technology on our lived experience. I currently programme Criw Celf for Arts Active, a national visual arts access scheme for young people. I’m a member of gentle/radical, a community arts organisation working in South Riverside and I’m currently a board member of a-n – the artists information company. Woven throughout my practice is the belief in creative expression as a fundamental right for all.

  • Patricia O’Sullivan

    Freelance Marketing & Communications Coordinator

    I’ve worked within the arts for over 30 years and with a number of arts organisations, venues and companies in Wales. Much of my work has & does include arts community, participation & engagement projects with particular focus on education, inclusion, diversity & well being. I currently manage the marketing and comms for all of the Arts Active and Arts Active Trust projects with support from the Arts Active team. I am currently a Trustee for Tin Shed Theatre Company, a theatrical company of freelance artists, makers and creative innovators specialising in arts activity and creative outreach provision in Wales. In my spare time, I try my hand at interior design.

Arts Active Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees bring a full range of skills to the organisation. The Trustees are committed individuals, all of whom have connections and interests within the creative sector. 

  • Geraint Davies CBE FCA

    Chair

    Geraint Davies is a chartered accountant having qualified in 1979 with a predecessor firm of PwC. From 1988 to 2013 he was a partner in Grant Thornton ending his career on retirement as Senior Partner, Wales. Geraint is a director of a number of companies including  GCRE Ltd. He chairs several charities and sits on the audit committee of other not for profit businesses. Since 2017 he has been involved with the Financial Reporting Council and now is an advisory Panel member. Geraint has significant experience in working with charities and in fundraising. He was a Board member of both the Wales Millennium Centre (in the development and building period through to the first few years of operation) and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (finishing as Vice Chair) of which he is a Fellow. He has been lead advisor to the Aberfan charities for more than 40 years and is now assisting the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours in December 2012 for his decades of voluntary work for charitable organisations in Wales.

  • Catherine Nightingale

    Head of Governance, Welsh Royal Voluntary Service

    Catherine spent many years as a solicitor in private practice and now works in a governance role for a national volunteering charity. In addition to her role as Trustee at Arts Active, Catherine is also a Trustee for the Llandaff Diocesan Board of Finance and supports other local charities working to transform the lives of women and girls. Catherine lives in Cardiff with her husband and daughter.

  • Rosie

    Executive Coach, Facilitator and Consultant

    Rosie is a qualified and accredited Professional Executive Coach and facilitator working with leaders across the arts, third and private sectors. She set up award winning B corporation, Sweetmans and Partners, in 2016 having previously held business development roles at Arts&Business, Grant Thornton and most recently was Director of Business in the Community Cymru. 

  • David Baxter

    Theatre Manager, Borough Theatre Abergavenny

    David is currently the Manager of the Borough Theatre Abergavenny. He is a former Artistic Director of Arts Active. A graduate of Dartington College of Arts David has worked for numerous Arts and Cultural organisations across the UK. He lectures on the Arts Management MA at the RWCMD and is a board member of Citrus Arts – a Rhondda based arts company that combines circus, theatre and dance performed and nurtured with communities. David has led a produced a variety of large scale community, education and participatory arts performances in venues ranging from the National concert Hall of Wales to Blaenavon Ironworks.

  • Brian Weir

    Director of Academic Administration and Student Experience at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

    Music graduate Brian Weir has over 20 years’ experience working in arts education. His areas of expertise include widening participation, equality and diversity, safeguarding, specialist learning support and charity governance.  A member of the Senior Management Team at RWCMD, he is also a Trustee of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and the Chair of Governors for this local primary school.

Plwg is the place for artists and teachers to find and share great arts education opportunities

plwg.cymru is the all-Wales arts, culture and education matchmaking website to support collaboration between teachers, creatives, arts and cultural organisations.
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