Upon completion of the OAUK Board Elections at our 2023 AGM, OAUK is pleased to announce that 3 new board members have been elected, alongside 3 re-elected board members.

New Board Members

Fee Hudson Francis

Fee is a freelance producer currently working as Project Manager for Hat Fair – the UK’s longest running street arts festival and assistant producer & access coordinator for Galatea – an outdoor theatre show with Emma Frankland, Wildworks and Marlborough Productions. Her focus is on access led work and she is on a personal development journey to become a more inclusive Outdoor Arts Producer.

Her previous work includes mass participation sports events management, corporate venue management and community-based arts projects. Her degree was in Drama and Event Management and her dissertation focused on the social benefits of annual outdoor festivals.

Tracey Sage 

Tracey first discovered Outdoor Arts when she arrived in London as a teenager. In the loneliest of times it gave her hope, a real sense of belonging, and a deeper understanding of place and community. She headed up R.B.Greenwich’s Culture, Tourism and Heritage Department (20 years) and is now an independent creative producer. Working with outdoor artists has always been key to this work.

Now as a Freelance Senior Associate with EEA, whom she has known for 20 years, she provides strategic support to the Board and Management Team. She loves this work; renewing her connection to the sector and supporting artists from all backgrounds to realise their dreams.

Gurvinder Sandher

Gurvinder has over 30 years’ experience in the arts sector as both a performer and event producer. Passionate about culturally diverse arts and events, providing much needed platforms for diverse artists and art forms. Extensive networks and links to local authorities, schools, public / charity sector organisations, local diverse communities, faith organisations and grass roots community led organisations.

Gurvinder is Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus. The focus of Cohesion Plus’ work across Kent is to use the arts, sports and community engagement to bring people together. Their festivals include: Eid Community Mela, Maidstone Windrush Celebrations, Ebbsfleet Fusion Festival, Gravesham Pride Celebrations, & Wrotham Festival of Light.

Re-elected Board Members

Camille Ben Soussan

Camille is an experienced Outdoor Arts professional with over 25 years of practice in the sector. She has worn many hats; first as a performer then agency manager at Continental Drifts and freelance festival producer for both commercial and community events. She was the General Manager of ISAN before joining Upswing as Executive Director in 2012.

She is based in London but work nationally/internationally with Upswing and my freelance projects. She got hooked on street theatre when she was a teenager and she is as passionate as ever about art in the public realm and promoting equality and access for both makers and audiences.

Graham Callister 

Dad of two teenagers (boy & girl) and an avid Man City fan! The Streets of Brighton Festival and the work of companies such as Group F, Dot Comedy and Artichoke exposed him to an artform he had never previously experienced as audience member that appealed due to its accessibility and creativity, inspiring him to forge his own career associated with Outdoor Arts.

Through roles in Local Government and at Birmingham Hippodrome, he has had the privilege to work with some amazing outdoor arts companies, artists and producers in the delivery of multiple performances, events and festivals nationally and internationally.

Lou Lomas

Lou is a Coventry based producer with over 12 years’ experience working in Outdoor Arts in the midlands and nationally, having worked with the following companies: Talking Birds, Imagineer Productions (Bridge 2017-2021 and Imagine Bamboo with independent artistic director Orit Azaz 21- 23), The Fabularium.

More recent work includes Tappin’In; a cocreated, mass-participation, tap dancing project. She has experience in project management, producing, programming, bid writing, touring, community engagement, mentoring. She is passionate about the sector & its future and advocate for those working in this industry.

They will be joining Sarah Bird, Phill Hargreaves, and Lorna Rees. The OAUK team very much look forward to working with them all over the next few years and thank Ajay Chhabra, Deb Mullins, and Alan Richardson for their service on the board.