Julie Connolly (Trustee – Chair)

Recently retired, Julie worked in senior leadership roles for over 25 years, firstly in banking and latterly in private finance. Julie has held many non-exec director roles including chairing the board at Faceless Arts from 2014-2017. Julie is passionate about helping people achieve all they want to be/achieve and feels that Edgelands Arts helps people to do this through the arts, by helping communities to come together to deal with social issues and achieve more / understand their neighbours. 

 

Erin Braithwaite (Trustee - Vice Chair)

Besides volunteering as a trustee on the board of Edgelands Arts, Erin presently works as Associate Director of Arts at Outwood Grange Academy Trust; is on the board of Tell Tale Hearts Childrens’ Theatre Company and was on the board of Faceless Arts from 2003 – 2017. Prior to which Erin was Head of Performing Arts at Thomas Rotherham College. Erin has an MA in Theatre from Chester University and a BA in Theatre Arts from Bretton Hall. 

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Claire Pickering (Trustee)

Claire is a Library Manager at Wakefield Museums and Libraries with a keen interest in arts and heritage projects. 

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Andy Wright (Trustee)

 After a 35 year career in Public libraries culminating in receiving a BEM in the 2022 Queen's New Years honours list, Andy retired in 2024 to pursue other interests. So far he's devised an Arts Council funded project encouraging non musicians to experiment with sound composition, written the music for the WX hosted sound installation "Coal Lines", upped his running mileage (he now runs around 30 miles a week a opposed to 20), and works freelance in schools and care homes on a variety of music related activities. Andy is passionate about public participation in art and culture, which is why he was delighted to be asked to be a Trustee for Edgelands, whose aspirations and ideas very much line up with his. 

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James Stephenson (Trustee - Treasurer) 

James holds an MA (Hons) Degree in Town Planning, working in the public sector of regeneration for over 30 years, with a particular interest in retaining many historic buildings, by integrating them into major new developments such as Wakefield Civic Quarter and Wakefield Waterfront. He is also passionate  about  creating new public spaces including the commissioning of public art. 

Recently he secured £48m of Levelling Up Funds for several major regeneration initiatives in Wakefield. He also secured and managed Heritage Lottery Funding for Westgate Heritage Action Zone. Prior to his work in major regeneration, he worked in community- led economic regeneration helping the city’s most challenging neighbourhoods.

 James has now retired but volunteers with several local organisations, as it provides him with an opportunity to give back and share his knowledge and experience with the next generation.  

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​Pamela Massey (Trustee)