The Cultural Spring Charity

Ellie Turner is Executive Director at Mortal Fools, an award‑winning charity delivering creative youth programmes that build power, agency and wellbeing for children, young people and their communities.

With over 20 years’ experience across cultural and funding bodies, Ellie has delivered cross‑sector partnerships that use theatre, film, creative technologies and lived‑experience insight to influence policy and improve wellbeing outcomes, including work in youth voice, public health and the criminal justice system. Ellie specialises in charity governance, partnership development and the applied use of creative practice to shape healthier, fairer and more responsive public systems.

Ian has been a Trustee of the Cultural Spring Charity since 2020. 

He also supports the Charity as the Finance Committee Chair.

Ian has worked in the Charity sector for many years, currently as Finance and Administration Manager for Sherburn House Charity and previously holding senior finance positions for organisations such as Sunderland Culture and Sunderland Music Arts and Culture Trust.

He also supports in a Freelance capacity with finance management for We Make Culture and the Summer Streets Festival.

He is also Treasurer for the Sunderland Football Club Supporters Trust and provides finance support to the National Football Supporters Association.

Graeme is the former Pro Vice Chancellor for External Relations at the University of Sunderland where he was responsible for alumni and development, media, marketing and cultural assets such as the National Glass Centre.

Graeme has been chair of The Cultural Spring steering group since its formation in 2013 and was founding chair of Sunderland Culture in 2016. He’s a UK Council member with the Creative UK and is on the North Area Council for Arts Council England. He’s a trustee of The Customs House in South Shields and chair of the education committee of the Royal Television Society.

Before arriving at the university in 2009, Graeme was an executive with ITV. He was awarded an MBE in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Mark is an award-winning communications professional with over 15 years of experience in creative marketing, journalism and brand strategy. He is Head of Communication and Engagement at the economic regeneration charity Back on the Map, who are working to make Hendon in Sunderland a place of opportunity to live, work and thrive.

Prior to joining Back on the Map Mark ran a creative marketing agency for over 10 years which specialised in working with a range of high profile clients in the charity, education and arts & culture sectors who were driven to make a difference in the world. 

Mark joined the board of Cultural Spring in 2022, feeling that the organisation married with his own values and that he could make a meaningful and impactful contribution to the charity to help it continue its considerable successes in Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Mark is passionate about all people in the North East having the opportunity to participate in art and culture. 

Outside of his professional life, Mark is a musician who performs regularly and releases music under the moniker Factory Fortnight, a project inspired by Tyne and Wear’s history and industrial heritage.

Fiona Martin has worked in Creative Engagement since 2006, with a professional background focused on engaging children, young people and communities in the arts. She began her career with Gateshead Arts Team and Northern Film and Media (now NE Screen), and is currently Deputy Director at The Customs House in South Shields, where she leads Creative Engagement work. Fiona specialises in inclusive, participatory practice, supporting those who may not traditionally access the arts due to socioeconomic barriers or challenging circumstances. She has directed and facilitated theatre with young people since 2009 and brings experience in creative production, talent development and community-led work.

Fiona joined The Cultural Spring Board in January 2022, inspired by its values-driven work across South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Denise trained as a teacher before working for Springboard Sunderland Trust in 1978 becoming Trust Secretary (CEO) in 2002 until her retirement in 2017.

She is Executive Officer of the Sunderland City Provider Network supporting employment and skills development in the City. Denise is a School Governor and a Trustee for Springboard and recently joined the Cultural Spring Charity as a Trustee. She believes it is vital to have a vibrant arts programme accessible to all and to encourage its take up. Denise is a member of Soroptimist International Sunderland and enjoys travelling, painting, art, and history.

Glenn is a qualified solicitor and works in-house as a Senior Legal Counsel. He specialises in commercial law, including intellectual property and data protection. He is also an accredited mediator.

As a trustee, Glenn supports the charity on legal, regulatory and governance matters.

Outside of work, Glenn is a musician, and a supporter of all things arts and culture in the region. He is also a Newcastle United season ticket holder.

Glenn joined the Cultural Spring in April 2024.