Laura Worsfold CEO Expand Laura joined Severn Arts as CEO in January 2019. Laura is responsible for leading the organisation and strategic direction for the charity and is instrumental in managing organisational change, and complex partnership projects, including the development and implementation of several pioneering public and private sector arts partnerships. Laura is an advocate for creative education and champions the role of music and the arts in shaping and enlightening our hearts and minds. Laura is a big supporter of open water swimming, and sits somewhere between a wild swimmer and a triathlete, always at the back of the pack, but with a smile on her face and a jaunty swimcap!
Alex Green Director of Resources and Operations Expand Alex joined Severn Arts as Director of Operations & Resources in December 2021 and is a passionate enabler of creativity and culture who loves a spreadsheet! Always preferring to be behind the scenes, Alex started off as a theatre lighting technician. After a spell crewing hotel narrowboat pairs and trialling a career in audit, he eventually moved into Theatre Front of House and Operations. He spent a number of years as General Manager at The Courtyard Centre for the Arts in Hereford before moving to Yeovil as Operations Manager for the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue. When not involved in culture and music, Alex can usually be found messing about on the rivers and canals of the Midlands aboard his narrowboat, Moonshine.
Debbie Fawcett Director of Learning Expand Debbie joined Severn Arts in September 1993 as an Instrumental Music Teacher and was promoted to the management team in 2006. In 2014 Debbie became Director for Learning with responsibility for Severn Arts music offer to schools, the organisation of large-scale music events, provision of training for teachers and a wide variety of projects with inclusion, in the widest sense, being at the heart of everything. Debbie is passionate about the ability of music and the arts to transform and enrich lives.
Elaine Knight Arts Director Expand Elaine leads on the arts programme for the Worcestershire County Council contract and oversees the strategic direction of the Festivals programme. Elaine moved from Lincolnshire in 2017 where she led a Creative People and Places Project, taking the arts into everyday spaces, making them accessible for everyone. Elaine is particularly passionate about making arts accessible to those in rural areas.
Min Sowden Marketing and Communications Manager Expand Min joined Severn Arts in June 2019 as strategic and operational lead for the organisation's marketing and communications. Min has several years of marketing and communications experience and arts marketing as a result of working on a range of projects such as the British Ceramics Biennial, International Festival of Glass and Discover Bewdley and for a number of different local authorities, trusts and partnerships.
David Edmunds Festivals Director Expand David has spent over 20 years working with the cultural industries as a producer, artistic director and programmer with a wide range of companies, artists and festivals, including the likes of Liverpool City of Culture, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre and 15 years running his own production company Dep Arts in Leeds. He has worked all over the world, including producing and touring events in the USA, Asia, mainland Europe and Australia and is passionate about increasing access to high quality outdoor arts activity and showcasing the very best work in Worcester as part of the new festivals programme.