Amanda Dalton
​Co-Chair

Amanda is a freelance writer, facilitator and occasional arts consultant especially in the field of community and education work in arts settings. 

​She’s been a deputy headteacher in comprehensive schools, a Centre Director for the Arvon Foundation at its Heptonstall house, Lumb Bank and was Engagement Director at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre for a number of years before going freelance in 2017. ​She writes original drama and adaptations for BBC Radio and theatre, her poetry collections are published by Bloodaxe books and she’s currently a Royal Literary Fund Fellow, Teaching Fellow at MMU’s Writing School and Associate Artist at the Royal Exchange Theatre.​​

Eric Broug
​Trustee

Eric Broug is an author and artist who has dedicated his life to Islamic geometric design. He moved from Holland to the UK 20 years ago to pursue this passion. His books teach how to design and understand these geometric patterns and have been translated into several languages. He gives workshops around the world, especially in the Middle East and North America. He lives with his wife and 12 year old daughter in an old Baptist chapel in Rishworth.

​Before setting up his own business three years ago, Eric worked as a sales manager for an academic publisher in Bingley, creating new business opportunities and networks in Africa, the Middle East and Scandinavia. He loves the arts, he loves how it can transform individuals and communities. 
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Pat Weller
​Co-Chair

Pat has spent over 40 years working as a theatre manager, programmer and producer. She was Executive Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre for nearly twenty years following which she worked as a freelance executive and producer in theatres all over the country including the Arts Theatre London, Edinburgh Festival Theatres, Hull Truck, Curve Leicester, West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Sage Gateshead and the Mercury Theatre Colchester.

She has also worked as a script editor for the BBC and ITV and produced an animated short for Walt Disney.​

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Rachel Jones
​Trustee​

​Rachel is an Occupational Therapist and Project Manager who has worked for visual and performing arts charities that have a focus on health and wellbeing for individuals and communities. She currently works at START, a mental health and arts charity in Salford. Over the years, Rachel has developed skills in coproduction, community engagement and safeguarding. 
 
She has been a trustee of Manchester Women’s Institute since 2015, where they offer a modern take on the traditional WI. Since moving to Hebden Bridge in 2018, she has felt at home within such a creative and cooperative community and is really looking forward to contributing towards this as part of the HBAF board.
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Jessica Burroughs
Trustee

Jessica has performed at all the major concert venues in the UK and toured the world extensively as a classical cellist. She has played for big-screen motion pictures, worked with legendary pop/rock/soul stars, performed as a soloist at the Royal Albert Hall, London and been broadcast on many BBC, Electric and Educational Proms as well as Radio 3, Classic FM and recordings with Orchid Classics, Hyperion, Divine Art and Meridian Record labels.

Alongside current positions as cellist of the Roscoe Piano Trio, Cyprus based contemporary music group, Ensemble Cyclamen and Section Leader of the Orchestra of Opera North, Jessica also has a passion for event programming and project planning. She has been responsible for planning tours, concerts, commissions, and funding bids as well as programming and fixing sell-out concert series.

​Jessica was made Event Programmer for the charity, Awards for Young Musicians in 2021. 

Georgina Jessop
Trustee

Georgie first got involved with HBAF when she was 16 via her school’s work experience programme, and the wonderful influence of Gillie Kerrod at Calderdale Theatre school. Since then, she has returned to the festival most years, which has  provided her with an incredible introduction to the arts.

She went on to study English Literature at the University of Sheffield, gaining more professional experience at Sheffield DocFest, Bradford Literature Festival & Theatre Delicatessen.

Her current work is in student development and engagement at Leeds University Union, with a focus on dance, performance, music and media. In September she is looking forward to starting an MA in Arts Management and Heritage , and as a Trustee, particularly hopes to contribute towards further community engagement and youth development strategies.
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Hannah Kay
Trustee

Hannah is currently the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at Burnley Youth Theatre where she delivers a strategic marketing and communications plan for the Charites 5 strands. She has also worked as a freelance artist and graphic designer since graduating from Manchester School of Art’s Textiles in Practice BA (Hons) in 2018.

Alongside her own practice, she is part of a collective with Daisy James, making art under the name Lunchtime Practice.

​Hannah has recently been chosen to be a part of a mentorship programme set up by AMA which teams young arts professionals with experienced mentors within the arts sector.

Lisa Graham
Administrator & Company Secretary

Lisa started off as a volunteer with Hebden Bridge Arts Festival in 2015 to meet people when she moved to the area. She was thrilled when the opportunity arose to get involved with a Staying Well project called Cafe Culture as  a freelance Project Coordinator. After this, she jumped at the chance to work as an Assistant on the annual 9-day festival and relished gaining more experience in event organisation, volunteer coordination and social media marketing.

Whilst the festival took a year off in 2020 and is currently focussed on community projects, she remains part of the team as Administrator and Company Secretary.    

In her spare time Lisa loves Art & Culture and you will often find her seeking out galleries, museums and heritage hot spots. 

Libby Molloy
Trustee

Libby is originally from Rotherham but currently lives in Huddersfield for her studies. She is a final year student at the University of Huddersfield working towards a Media Studies degree.

In her spare time she enjoys photography, crochet and watching movies, particularly horror!

Libby would like to develop a career in social media marketing, advertising, and content creation. She hopes in the future to use her transferrable skills to work with smaller, independent businesses because she'd love to help them grow to enable them to reach their goals.

Libby is really looking forward to working with the HBAF team and to see the outcome of the festival!