Future Arts Centres

Creative Enterprise

Since December 2024, we have been hosting a series of online talks for all FAC members, with invited guests – often from beyond the arts sector – considering ‘if you were running an arts centre, what would you do?’

Upcoming sessions

Our next sessions are:

Jess Steele

Fri 22 May, 8.30am-9.30am

Dr Jess Steele OBE has thirty years of experience as a local community activist and entrepreneur in Deptford and Hastings, as well as at a national level working with government, funders, corporates and academics. An active social entrepreneur, she has established community enterprises in publishing, heritage, tourism, childcare, financial management, neighbourhood development, workspace and, more recently, homes that are genuinely affordable in perpetuity and leisure for everyone.

Jess is currently CEO (soon to be ‘Commoner-at-Large’) of Hastings Commons, a community land trust with the vision of a thriving and inclusive White Rock area, free of dereliction and full of community-owned assets maintained by a culture of commoning. She is also Director of Jericho Road, a consultancy supporting local transformation through neighbourhood coaching and national influence for the concept of self-renovating neighbourhoods. In February 2022 Jess completed her PhD on self-renovating neighbourhoods as an alternative to gentrification.

Jess will be sharing with us: Friday 22nd May 2026, 8.30am-9.30am.

Andy Wood

Tue 7 July, 8.30am-9.30am

Dr Andy Wood OBE is a Chair and advisor who works with organisations that matter but are struggling to perform as well as they should. He currently chairs Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and holds a number of Chair and Non-Executive roles across healthcare, public service and commercial organisations. He is also Chair of Norse Group, who provide financial management and are the UK’s largest local authority trading company, and Chair of Visit East of England.

Over a 30-year executive career, including as CEO of Adnams from the mid-1990s to 2022, he was also a long-standing supporter and sponsor of the arts, working closely with cultural organisations across the East of England.

Andy will be sharing with us: Tuesday 7th July 2026, 8.30am-9.30am.