Meet the Team

Get to know us here at Charnwood Arts

  • A black-and-white photo of Shirley Novak at a speaking engagement with a focused expression.

    Shirley Novak

    Chief Executive Officer

    Shirley is responsible for the overall running and creative direction of Charnwood Arts. Her role includes vision, strategy, innovation and building relationships with local artists and organisations. Shirley is passionate about creating community connections and providing a way for people to explore and grow their creativity in a meaningful way.  

  • A photo of Charlotte Curran with glasses and long brown hair smiling at the camera, seated at a wooden table near a window in a well-lit room.

    Charlotte Curran

    Office and Operations Manager

    Charlotte’s role as Office & Operations Manager at Charnwood Arts oversees operations, finance, governance and reporting, health & safety, environmental monitoring and communications. Working closely with the CEO and local partners, she keeps activity running smoothly and compliantly.

  • A photo of Sam Kitson with long hair wearing a flower crown, making a slight smile, in black and white.

    Sam Kitson

    Breathe Create Coordinator

    Sam is our Breathe Create Coordinator at Charnwood Arts. Her role involves developing and coordinating community-focused art projects and programmes aligned with the Breathe Create initiative. She supports participants in building their skills and gaining meaningful experiences, using the arts as a tool to increase wellbeing.

  • Black and white photo, Rachael is wearing a scarf and glasses with long hair

    Rachael Chambers

    Marketing & Emerging Artist Coordinator

    Rachael is our Marketing Coordinator and Programme Lead for the Emerging Artists Programme. She leads on the promotion and communication of Charnwood Arts’ projects and activities, helping to connect artists, participants and communities with creative opportunities.

    As Programme Lead for the Emerging Artists Programme, Rachael supports the development of early-career artists by coordinating opportunities, fostering partnerships and helping participants build confidence, skills and professional networks.

  • A photo of Payal Walker with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling, against a white background.

    Payal Walker

    Chair of the Board

    Payal is a Entrepreneur, leadership Mentor, Board member, Advisory Board member, and Board Trustee. Her journey has led to the establishment of Women on Boards CIC®, an innovative social enterprise championing gender equality and opportunities for female entrepreneurs. She currently guides Boards, Entrepreneurs and leaders on strategic partnerships, enhancing personal and social competencies, and understanding diverse leadership styles and influences. Her vision is to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the journey of aspiring female leaders and entrepreneurs. 

  • A photo of Lucy Bartram with short brown hair, glasses, and hoop earrings smiling at the camera, sitting indoors with a window and pink flowers in the background.

    Lucy Bartram

    Vice Chair of the Board

    Lucy has a background in marketing, events and operations having worked with a variety of organisations for over 20 years in the creative industries. She has a deep passion for art, crafts, and community engagement and is committed to making the arts accessible to everyone. Lucy believes that the arts play a crucial role in celebrating and shaping our cultural identities and that Charnwood Arts is ideally placed to champion that.

  • Peter Butlin

    Trustee

    Retired after 28 years in business, Peter has a passion for the many forms art takes, and in particular, the opportunity it gives us to express ourselves and decompress from an often-stress-filled life. He says ‘Art is all around us, in everything we see and hear, in the natural world and the world we create, good or bad. It affects us all’

  • A photo of Michael Arrowsmith with curly brown hair, wearing glasses, smiling, and dressed in a plaid shirt, standing outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Michael Arrowsmith

    Trustee

    Michael joined the Board of Trustees at Charnwood Arts in July 2023, after wanting to get more involved with the local community. He is a keen amateur actor, performing in regular shows with local theatre group the Festival Players. And now, after joining Charnwood Arts, he feels that he is now a fully fledged member of the community, looking to grow his roots even further. 

  • A photo of John Dimmick smiling with black glasses wearing a plaid shirt.

    John Dimmick

    Trustee

    John is a local resident of over 30 years and an active member of the community. He has been retired for many years and is a Trustee of several local charities.

    John is keen to see the arts incorporated into the life of the local community and has seen the beneficial effects this can have. John is an admirer of Charnwood Arts and the work we do, and is keen to help the organisation develop further.

  • Close-up of Dolly the Dog with curly fur, lying on a blue carpeted floor.

    Dolly

    Wellbeing Officer

    Dolly is a registered therapy dog with the charity ‘Pets As Therapy’. She is a very friendly, two year old soft Toy Poodle x French Lowchen and loves to visit Charnwood Arts, greeting everyone that comes through the door. She even has a special bed in the office with lots of toys!

    Visit www.instagram.com/dollydogtherapy to find out more about Dolly.