Board of Trustees
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TrusteeMarie Nixon has worked at the intersection of business, music, culture, and education throughout her career. She has held roles at Arts Council England, in artist and product management in the commercial music industry, and as a charity chief executive of the University of Sunderland Students’ Union. Now Theatre Director at Sunderland Empire, the largest lyric theatre between Edinburgh and Manchester, she is also a Trustee of MAC Trust and Sunderland Culture. A musician and songwriter, she has released four albums with Kenickie and The Cornshed Sisters. She is a Clore Fellow and an MBA graduate. She is particularly interested in how creativity can support social change, especially in North East England.
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TrusteeMichael Barrass is an experienced arts and culture producer specialising in community engagement, event programming and project management. His work focuses on making arts and culture accessible and impactful for young people and communities. Originally from Sunderland, Michael studied at Sunderland College and the University of Sunderland. He is currently Culture Start Manager for Sunderland Culture, leading a citywide programme that removes barriers to participation and helps ensure every child and young person in Sunderland can access creative and cultural opportunities. He has previously worked with The Cultural Spring, Unfolding Theatre and Newcastle University, and has also supported organisations and festivals including Toronto Fringe Festival, Northern Stage, Museums Northumberland and Great Exhibition of the North in a freelance capacity.
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TrusteeHannah Matterson works in the arts, heritage and charity sector as the Executive Director at Open Clasp Theatre. She has predominantly worked in the creative industries for over a decade, taking on key roles at Kielder Observatory, Generator, MAC Trust, Manchester Metropolitan University and more. She is passionate about partnerships and fundraising, helping organisations, artists and communities to reach their potential. Hannah was previously the Lead Governor for career focussed curriculum at Sunderland College, and is currently a non-executive director of Felt Nowt, supporting the development of comedy in the North East. If she's not at a gig, you'll find her in the kitchen baking.
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TrusteePhil Dunn is a solicitor who has worked in property law in Newcastle and Sunderland since 2010, currently in house at Sunderland City Council. Outside of work, Phil has volunteered as company secretary of Pop Recs CIC since 2018, and so has broad experience of the challenges faced by cultural organisations in the not for profit sector in addition to the benefit of his legal knowledge.