OUR BOARD MEMBERS
LOUISA BROWN
Louisa Brown is a Fraud Analyst within Governance Risk and Compliance for Auto Trader, where she has worked for almost 16 years in various roles.
Since 2018 Louisa has been a facilitator and now lead for the LGBT+ Network at Auto Trader, a position which means a great deal to her. The aim of the network is to bring together colleagues from across the business to raise awareness and to make a difference to LGBT+ colleagues and communities. This is achieved through education, engaging with external communities to make positive changes. Louisa identifies as Bi and is proud to be a Bi Role Model within Auto Trader, she has a special interest in championing Bi colleagues and communities by breaking down misconceptions and having those all-important ‘uncomfortable conversations’.
In a previous life Louisa was a Theatre Maker, something she is still extremely passionate about. Having obtained a BA (Hons) in Theatre from the University of Wolverhampton and a PGDip from LIPA she began her career in Aberdeenshire working with young people in Youth Theatre Development. Louisa currently volunteers in the Local Ambassador Programme for the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester as well as occasionally making her own theatre when the opportunity arises.
ALICIA SMITH
Born and raised in Liverpool, Alicia has always had a passion for all things creative. In her early year’s she trained as a professional dancer, performing on worldwide stages.
Alicia is a key member of the Culture Liverpool Leadership team, and heads up the Arts & Participation team for Culture Liverpool. Leading the way on the strategic cultural development for the city in collaboration with many partners.
Her wealth of knowledge and experience pays dividends to that, having worked on many innovative projects. The European Capital of Culture 2008 programme of events, the Giant Spectacular trilogy, the Vitality Netball World Cup, RISE, UNESCO City of Music as well as studies into the social impact of arts and lead officer for Arts Council England’s National Portfolio status to name a few.
An avid advocate for the arts, Alicia is a familiar face on the national and international networking circuit providing help and advice on best practice for culture programmes, cultural experiences, and cultural journeys.
Alicia has recently taken on Interim Divisional Manager role for Liverpool City Council this role has responsibility for developing a more joined up approach and closer working relationship with partners, that realigns and gives synergy and links to arts and participation, libraries and information, heritage, Physical Activity and sport development and creative neighbourhood development that works towards a new Neighbourhood model with libraries being at the heart of these communities.
SIOBHAN NOBLE
Siobhan Noble is a Northwest based producer with over ten-year’s experience in creating regional touring theatre. She is currently Senior Producer at Shakespeare North Playhouse.
As a working class practitioner Siobhan is passionate about creating socially engaged theatre for audiences who might not think that theatre is for them. She is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented artists.
As co-owner and producer for Liverpool’s much loved Lantern Theatre from where she championed new writing and supported grass roots artists. During her time at the Lantern, Siobhan produced all in of the venues in house productions as well as launching Shiny New Festival and Lantern Writers.
Following her time at the Lantern Theatre, Siobhan worked as a freelance producer making work in both traditional and none traditional venues including a sell-out production of John Godbers Shakers at Liverpool’s Bombed Out Church.
Siobhan is currently a member of Heart of Glass, Women Working Class conversation, led by artist Fox Irving, this initiative connects female artists from working class backgrounds together to discuss pathways into the arts and improved access for working-class women
ALEX MEDICOTT
Alex Medlicott, is the founder and director of the Liverpool Arts Bar. Being an entrepreneur, native to Liverpool and initially training in theatre, he cares about the local creative scene, its standards, the individuals within it as well as the city's economy and hospitality industry.
Alex is passionate about connecting creative people, encouraging artists to network and developing new work. After graduating from John Moores University in 2015, he set up the Liverpool Arts Society, a platform for creatives to promote their work, share ideas and collaborate on large scale projects.
In 2019, Alex and fellow Arts Society founders launched the Liverpool Arts Bar, setting out to open a creative hub opposite iconic Liverpool arts organisations like the Everyman & Royal Philharmonic Hall, where artists could find a safe space to showcase their work, promote their projects and share ideas with likeminded people. The venue's mission is to promote and celebrate local, grassroots art. Surviving the pandemic and using the time to develop their online offering they spent lockdown streaming live events that they would have usually hosted in the venue. ince returning the Arts Bar has won many awards, recently being voted Liverpool’s best music venue by a board of musicians. Most recently they have opened Arts Bar Studios, a whole floor of subsidised studio space for music, theatre, dance and more.
Alex is an extremely driven individual, with aims to grow the Arts Bar brand within the city and then UK wide. Always looking to support artists, make them think entrepreneurial and develop new, exciting and innovative work.
LAUREN NICOLE WHITTER
Lauren Nicole Whitter is an actress, poet, physical theatre performer and external examiner based in Derby. Lauren studied drama at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is a published poet and delivers drama and clown workshops around the East Midlands to various community groups, such as the Enabled Centre and Nottingham Refugee Forum.
In addition to being a freelance artist for Wollaton Hall’s Black Tudor project, Lauren is a freelance practitioner for the Nottingham Playhouse, Hubbub Theatre Company and Derby Theatre. Lauren is Core Artist of Unlimited Theatre and a Generate Artist of The Royal and Derngate. Lauren received training from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Gecko Theatre Company and Tmesis Theatre Company. She is keen to make the arts accessible and inclusive.
Her new theatre company -Anansi Theatre Company which is ran by and for women of colour, looks at theatre, wellbeing and new stories. As a newly qualified yoga teacher, Lauren uses movement and yoga in her work and in her practice.
