ABOUT US

A proud Hull resident, Trish retired as Deputy Chief Executive of Hull City Council in 2019 after a distinguished public service career. Since then, she has remained deeply committed to the city through voluntary leadership roles, including Chair of Generation Hull, the city’s Local Cultural Education Partnership. Generation Hull brings schools and creative organisations together to ensure children and young people can access high-quality cultural experiences.

 

Trish is passionate about strengthening Hull’s future by championing creativity, collaboration and opportunity for the next generation, ensuring culture continues to play a central role in the city’s growth and civic life.

Mark Moore is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in senior financial management. Based in Hull, he brings extensive expertise in governance and strategic finance to the Trustee Board. Mark has held senior roles including Finance Director for a leading Northern theatre, guiding the organisation through challenging times for the arts sector.

 

Passionate about live performance and innovation in public space, he believes culture plays a vital role in strengthening communities. Prior to joining Freedom Festival Arts Trust, Mark served for eight years as a board member of a local college, contributing to regional education and development.

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Councillor Rob Pritchard brings civic leadership experience and a strong commitment to public service to the Trustee Board. As an elected representative, he is dedicated to supporting Hull’s communities and ensuring culture plays a central role in the city’s development and wellbeing.

 

Rob recognises the importance of accessible arts and heritage in fostering pride, opportunity and connection. Through his role with Freedom Festival Arts Trust, he champions partnership working between the cultural sector and local government, helping to strengthen Hull’s reputation as a vibrant, inclusive and forward-looking city.​

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Deborah Chidera Arikibe is a youth leader and human rights advocate committed to building inclusive, equitable spaces for young people and marginalised communities. Her work spans mental health advocacy, anti-racism education and youth participation.

 

A longstanding member of the Humber Youth Action Group, she collaborates with regional leaders to improve services through co-production. Deborah has contributed to nationally recognised anti-racism projects and represented young people on international platforms. As a Trustee of Freedom Festival Arts Trust, she brings strategic insight, lived experience and a strong commitment to social justice, championing creativity and cultural access for all communities.

Tare Kagbala is a working mother with a diverse portfolio career spanning multiple sectors. A creative at heart, she has a strong passion for art, events and community engagement.

 

Tare is committed to strengthening communities through inclusive cultural experiences and believes that art and culture can be powerful drivers of positive social change. Her work focuses on creating welcoming spaces where people feel represented, connected and inspired.

 

Through her role as Trustee, she champions inclusivity and collaboration, supporting Freedom Festival Arts Trust’s mission to use creativity as a force for unity and opportunity.

Charlotte Harrison has a background in law and over a decade of experience across business, education and the arts. After many years working internationally, she returned to Hull with a passion for applying her global insight to support the city’s cultural growth.

 

Charlotte brings strong governance expertise and strategic thinking to the Trustee Board. She is committed to championing inclusive access to culture, believing creativity fosters connection, belonging and opportunity. Through her role at Freedom Festival Arts Trust, she supports initiatives that help communities thrive and strengthen Hull’s cultural identity.

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Daryl Beeton is Creative Director of Daryl & Co and has worked for over 25 years across theatre, disability arts and young people’s participation. A director and performer, he is widely recognised as a cultural leader and advocate for disabled artists.

 

Daryl believes deeply in the power of the arts to enrich lives and strengthen communities. His work centres on promoting access, inclusion and opportunity, ensuring marginalised voices are represented and valued.

 

Through his leadership and advocacy, he continues to challenge barriers within the cultural sector and champion meaningful participation for all.

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Tom Curteis is an international cultural collaborator and creative producer with extensive experience leading inclusive, interdisciplinary arts programmes. He has held senior roles with Shubbak Festival and LEEDS 2023, delivering global partnerships across more than 50 countries, and previously worked at the British Council on major international cultural initiatives. Tom champions inclusive arts through his independent practice, supporting Deaf and disabled artists and contributing to leading festivals across the UK. He also serves on advisory boards and trustee roles within the sector.

 

Tom brings global perspective, strategic expertise and a deep commitment to equity in cultural exchange.

Annabelle Baron-Medlam is an experienced governance and compliance professional with 17 years’ experience across NHS Trusts and the rail sector. Her expertise includes regulatory compliance, contract management, risk oversight and policy development. Since 2019, she has also been actively involved in educational governance, supporting strong leadership and accountability.

 

Annabelle is passionate about Hull’s culture and history and believes arts and heritage play an essential role in civic identity and wellbeing. As a Trustee, she brings rigorous governance knowledge and a commitment to supporting sustainable, high-quality cultural provision in the city.