…is a new organisation that has been created by the organising committee for Ware’s bid to be UK Town of Culture 2028.
It involves Ware’s leading cultural organisations, historians and those with expertise in engaging people with disabilities. Its principles are to: promote community spirit and civic pride; support the capacity of local cultural groups; engage a wide range of voices; encourage children’s active participation in local arts and culture, promote youth skills and employment; build toward national engagement; and benefit the local economy. The involvement of the town’s key cultural organisations, which collectively have an annual footfall of more than a half million people ensures that we will be working collaboratively.
Deputy Leader, Ware Town Council, former Mayor; local business owner; design studies; Ware Next steering committee member chair and CIC trustee
Chairman and District Coordinator, HertsWatch, Freedom of Ware recipient
Ware Town Council, former Mayor; East Herts District Council; SEND parent; Oxfam international policy advisor; charity trustee (Wodson Park, Action on Armed Violence, Herts FASD); amateur stage crew/actor; Ware Next steering committee member and CIC trustee
Chief Executive, The National Organisation for FASD; Trustee, Herts FASD; former international director Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs (recipients of 1995 Nobel Peace Prize); former director Student Pugwash USA; SEND parent; history studies; Ware Next steering committee member and CIC trustee
Chair of Trustees, Southern Maltings (Ware Arts Centre Limited); business leader; SEND parent
Director, Ware Drill Hall
Writer; specialist in literature and child rights; chair of Ware Poets; local youth mentor; charity trustee (English PEN, CILIP the Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom committee); ex-head of Amnesty International’s literature programme; former chair, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Town Clerk and CEO Ware Town Council; NALC Clerk of the Year 2022; Chair of Isobel Hospice; Trustee, The Ware Charities
CEO Always Bee You (supporting adult with learning disabilities); former service and partnership manager Guidepost Trust UK
Local business owner and artist; former teacher
Ware Town Council; Co-founder Ware Online; Ware’s the Fun Palace; Dickensian Evening; story-teller and fringe theatre enthusiast; eLearning expert; parent
Wodson Park CEO and General Manager; Chair Active East Herts community sports network
Ware Town Council and Deputy Mayor/Mayor Designate 2027; Hertfordshire County Council; trainee solicitor with interest in workplace rights, equality & ethical practice; local eco-friendly business owner; parent; former volunteer Citizens Advice Bureau; Ware Next steering committee member and trustee
Ware Society Trustee; Friends of St Marys Trustee; Parochial Church Council St Mary’s Parish Trustee
Freedom of Ware recipient; former Mayor; Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts Trustee; Southern Maltings (Ware Arts Centre Limited) Trustee; Wodson Park Trustee
Freedom of Ware recipient; local historian; former Mayor; Museum Trustee; Wodson Park Trust Trustee
Chair of Trustees Ware Drill Hall; Chair Ware Musical Theatre; Chair Knebworth Village Trust, longtime experience in running theatres
This bid has the support of Josh Dean MP.
More than 60 organisation and 40 businesses support our Town of Culture bid.
Whatever happens with this bid, Ware Next will continue.