Peter, what’s your role within Lichfield Arts, and what does it involve?

I have been a trustee since 2022 and was delighted to be elected Chair of Trustees at our AGM in June 2025. It’s my role to lead and work with my fellow trustees to provide governance for Lichfield Arts: to decide its strategic direction, to ensure its future viability and to continue to develop new initiatives for the organisation. I’m really looking forward to the new role working with the talented team of trustees, the Operations Team and our enthusiastic volunteers. I’m also to be found serving behind the Guildhall bar at a number of our events and in some other volunteer roles.

What drew you to get involved with Lichfield Arts?

I was invited in 2017 by a musical friend to join the committee helping to organise the Lichfield Festival of Folk, and I really enjoyed being part of the team involved in creating and running the event. I had not really heard much about Lichfield Arts prior to that involvement, but soon became struck by the energy and passion for the arts of those involved with the organisation.

What’s your background or professional experience in the arts or community work?

I have had extensive experience of working with charities. I’m currently Chair of Trustees at the village hall where I live and my professional background has involved being Chair of a large environmental charity.

I’m also a modestly talented but enthusiastic singer and guitarist, so have enjoyed being part of volunteering and supporting the performers at our Guildhall gigs and Festivals.

What do you enjoy most about being part of Lichfield Arts?

I’ve loved meeting lots of interesting and talented people from the arts world – my fellow trustees, our amazing LA volunteers and of course the artists that we host. To witness a full Guildhall enjoying an LA gig and seeing the social connectedness which that engenders is a delight, and it’s a pleasure to know that I have been a small part of making it happen. At almost every meeting I attend or gig that I volunteer at, I learn something new, which is also a pleasure.

What’s something you’re proud of contributing to at Lichfield Arts?

Lichfield Arts has undergone some important changes over the last couple of years which have transformed the way it works and the programme that we offer. I’m proud to have been part of the team that achieved that: it involved some difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions but I’m also proud of the way the organisation now looks and how it is ready to face the future.

What are you most excited about for the future of Lichfield Arts?

For 50 years, we have been ‘Inspiring, Involving, Entertaining’ and there are no plans to change that. I’m inspired myself about the new initiatives that we have recently introduced, like the Emerging Talent and Future Leaders programmes, our ECCO: Explore/Create/Connect outreach initiative and others that are in the pipeline. It’s going to be hard work, but a lot of fun.