Vote for Co-chair Representing Organisations
Bradford Cultural Voice Forum is recruiting for a new Co-chair, who will help oversee the district's cultural network – its membership, management committee, and coordinators, alongside the existing Co-chair representing freelancers. We are pleased to announce the candidates for the Co-chair, all of whom have self-nominated for this role.
Voting is now open!
Please cast your vote before Mon 21 July.
Meet the Candidates
Please read the profiles for all the candidates before making your vote
Richard D Rhodes
As a passionate and proactive member of Bradford’s cultural sector, I would be honoured to serve as Co-Chair of the Cultural Voice Forum representing organisations. I am currently Vice Chair of Studio at Bingley Little Theatre, where I foster new writing and diversity by producing material such as their ITCH programme and the recent LGBT+ themed event, Over the Rainbow. I am keen to amplify underrepresented voices.
With a background as a Primary School Headteacher, I am also Co-Chair of Rainbow Home (North East) and sit on the Boards of The Red Ladder Theatre Company and Script Yorkshire. Consequently, I bring strategic leadership, governance experience and a track record of collaboration and accountability.
As a producer, playwright and emerging screenwriter, I have been mentored by Bradford Producing Hub, Paines Plough, the Unit and Screen Yorkshire: I am committed to inclusive, grassroots-driven creative development that reflects Bradford’s and West Yorkshire’s rich cultural heritage.
I understand the needs and challenges facing both established institutions and agile, project-led teams. I believe CVF is essential to building a more connected, resilient cultural ecosystem in Bradford. If elected, I would work closely with the freelance Co-Chair and coordinators to ensure that organisational perspectives are well represented during CVF’s transition to a new formal structure, while supporting inclusive advocacy, dynamic meetings, and new partnerships.
I am committed to equity and sustainability in the wider world and the arts and would welcome the chance to help guide CVF through its next vital phase.
Alice Withers
I’ve been working in the arts & culture sector for 15 years as a freelance artist, curator and arts management professional. As an artist, I worked in the collective Reet So, specialising in site specific interactive interventions and socially engaged work with communities (2013-2018). Alongside this I have curated projects for Compass Live Art Festival and UP Projects. I have a deep interest in situated practice within communities, exploring stories of everyday lives, and programming in a way which is responsive to people & place.
In my post as Director at South Square Centre, an arts, heritage, and community centre based in Thornton, I’ve had the pleasure of engaging the centre in a transformational journey supported by £1.3m NLHF-funded Capital Refurbishment alongside a 3-year Heritage Activity Programme, which has seen audiences grow from 20,000pa to 31,000pa. Since becoming Director in Feb 2023, I’ve spent a lot of time developing the governance and most recently writing a 3-year business plan.
I have been an active member of CVF since 2019. I feel the forum plays a unique role in supporting the sector, acting as a conduit for connecting artists and fostering much needed collaboration, which is so needed when working as a freelancer. I feel that my experience in a leadership position of a small organisation will be perfect to support CVF through its next stage. I think that supporting CVF as a Co-chair will be rewarding for my own development and I would love the opportunity to speak up for Bradford’s cultural sector.