Who we are
Our team
People behind the vision
The BCP Cultural Compact is driven by a passionate team dedicated to shaping a vibrant and creative future for Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. With diverse expertise and a shared commitment to innovation, we work together to strengthen the region’s creative landscape.
Together, we are shaping a thriving and inclusive future for the creative sector in BCP.
Arts & creative industries
With expertise across performing arts, visual culture, heritage, and creative education, we support artists, organisations, and practitioners at every level.
Storytelling & advocacy
We amplify voices, attract investment, and inspire engagement through compelling narratives and meaningful partnerships.
Connection & collaboration
Bringing people together is at the heart of what we do—building networks, unlocking funding, and creating opportunities for all.
Vision with leadership
Our leaders bring experience in policy, organisational development, and strategic planning, ensuring a bold and sustainable future.
Your Cultural Compact task group
Working together for a creative future
The Compact is made up of a number of different organisations who have a stake in culture across BCP from cultural venues to educational and business organisations.
It originally sat within BCP Council, who is still a key partner in the Compact, and is now hosted by Arts University Bournemouth. Together we are shaping a thriving and inclusive future for the creative sector in BCP.
How we collaborate:
Broker
We champion and advocate for our partners, ensuring they have the resources to grow and succeed.
Connect
Bringing creatives together to form new alliances.
Champion
Laying the groundwork for attracting conurbation-wide investment.
Inspire
We share knowledge, celebrate successes, and cultivate a spirit of generosity that benefits the entire sector.
Helen Keall
She/her
Executive Director and Joint CEO at Pavilion Dance, as well as Chair of the Cultural Compact. She plays a key role in driving cultural development and partnerships across the region.
Favourite place:
- The beach in winter, just 100m from Pavilion Dance’s front door
Cultural recommendations:
- Anything by Maggie O’Farrell, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Kate Atkinson and Helen Oyeyemi – brilliant female novelists
Kate Wood
She/her
Kate is the Artistic & Executive Director of Activate Performing Arts and Vice Chair of the BCP Cultural Compact, supporting Helen in her role as Chair.
With nearly 30 years’ experience across performance, tour management, and leadership, she has championed national and European partnerships, major projects, and a lifelong commitment to equality, the environment, and accessible arts.
Favourite place:
- Hengistbury Head
Cultural recommendation:
- Programmes we run at Activate, including Inside Out Dorset
- Dorset Theatre Promoters Consortium
- Our friends at b-Side and Arts By the Sea festivals
Rohan Gotobed
He/him
Rohan works part-time as the Compact’s Arts Development Lead. He is a freelance writer and theatre director, often creating new plays with his company Dorsetborn.
He leads Poole Lighthouse’s Young Writers programme (supported by Artful Scribe) and is a trustee of Activate Performing Arts.
Favourite place:
- Canford Heath, where I’m happiest exploring the beautiful landscape, whatever the weather.
Cultural recommendation:
- I’ve recently reread Alan Lane’s brilliant book, ‘The Club on the Edge of Town’, about how his theatre company - Slunglow, repurposed itself as a community organisation during the pandemic. Inspiring and insightful.
Andrea Francis
She/her
Andrea is the Cultural Development Manager at BCP Council with over 15 years’ experience in theatre, culture, and events. She leads a team delivering heritage, public art, and community projects, and directs the Arts by the Sea festival. Andrea represents the Council on the Cultural Compact. She is passionate about how culture enriches lives, builds communities, and supports regeneration.
Favourite place:
- On my bike! Visiting many of the beautiful places and fantastic cultural assets we have here in BCP.
Cultural recommendations:
- Impossible to choose!
Dr Ian Jones
He/him
Ian is Head of External Engagement at Bournemouth University. He works across all areas of the University to ensure the effective development and delivery of BU’s engagement strategy with stakeholders promoting collaboration, innovation and enterprise.
Favourite place:
- The Vitality Stadium.
- My areas of interest are sporting identities, sport fan behaviour, and research methods for sport.
Cultural recommendation:
- ‘Dear England’, the brilliant play by James Graham.
Paul Kinvig
He/him
Chief Operating Officer for Bournemouth Town Centre BID, Paul’s responsibilities for the Compact are centred around our ‘Meanwhile Spaces’ strategy.
Favourite place:
- Bournemouth Beach. I find proximity to the ocean both relaxing and creatively inspiring.
Cultural recommendation:
- I love culture in all its forms. Go to bands you’ve never heard before, and exhibitions you’ve never seen. Even if you only push your artistic boundaries an inch, you will discover a value you never realised.
Lisa Mann
She/her
Lisa Mann is the Vice-Chancellor and CEO at Arts University Bournemouth. She joined the University in December 2022 as Executive Director of Innovation before her promotion to Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2024.
Favourite place:
- Poole Harbour in the sunshine
Cultural recommendations:
- I’m very proud of Dorset’s biggest mural, painted by AUB students under the Braidley Road flyover on the way into the town centre from Meyrick Park.
Andy Martin
He/him
BCP Cabinet member for Culture, Communications, Customer, Consultation and Complaints.
Favourite place:
- Highcliffe Castle
Cultural recommendation:
- All the President’s Men
Elspeth McBain
She/her
CEO of Lighthouse, Poole, one of the UK’s largest regional arts centres. She oversees multiple venues, a large team, and a diverse artistic and community programme. A founding member of the Cultural Compact, she is committed to strengthening the region’s cultural landscape.
Favourite place:
- Poole Harbour – sailing my boat (or Lighthouse, of course!)
Cultural recommendation:
- Motionhouse Dance Company – breathtaking and inspiring
- Tess by Ockham’s Razor – a beautiful dance and circus retelling of Tess of the D’Urbervilles
- Anything by Gecko Theatre – genius physical theatre
- African Rhapsodies by Seckou Keita with the BSO – a stunning fusion of Senegalese kora and orchestral tradition
Dougie Scarfe
He/him
Dougie Scarfe joined the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as its new Chief Executive in July 2012 after a successful career as performer, Manager and Director at Opera North.
Favourite place:
- The beach along from Sandbanks to Bournemouth. For me, right from being a child, there is nothing better than sitting on the beach on a beautiful summer or winter’s day just watching the world go by
Cultural recommendations:
- I’m very proud of our programme at BSO. Music has an incredible capacity to bring joy not just to the audiences but to the musicians. It can reach into the soul like nothing else, it can evoke almost any emotion. It is so precious.
Morag Wood
She/her
A culture and communications specialist with extensive experience in the arts, heritage, science, and charity sectors. She has worked with the Natural History Museum, London Development Agency, and Millennium Commission. Founder-Director of the Culture Communications Collective, she now advises the Cultural Compact on communications. Vice Chair of Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Favourite place:
- Brownsea Island
Cultural recommendation:
- The Sir John Soane Museum, London – a fascinating, eclectic insight into a brilliant mind