Who we are

The North East Cultural Diversity Arts Forum (NECDAF) is an organisation governed by volunteer Trustees from local communities, organisations and agencies.

The organisation is run as a charity.


The organisation was set up in 2004 to provide practical services to the cultural, arts and community organisations serving minority ethnic communities in North East England. It employs a Director and Project Coordinator and works closely with the Arts Council England (North East), other funders, voluntary sector and public sector agencies to develop a sustainable infrastructure for diverse arts in North East England.


Director: Oscar Watson

Project Coordinator: Richard Neville

 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chair: David Faulkner

I am passionate about the arts and also about equality and racial justice. I bring the two together through being Chair of Shakers and Movers which offers drama-based training on equality and diversity. I have acquired an extensive network of contacts in business, the media, the unions and in the cultural, voluntary and community sectors. I am a trustee of the Northern Rock Foundation, a board member of First Act Theatre (based in St. Nicholas psychiatric hospital) and of Culture North East.

Deputy Chair: Saleem Malik
Being on the board of PCS for 15 years I have gained a tremendous experience in organising various arts and cultural events with a view to promote awareness about Indian and Pakistani culture through music, drama, theatre and poetry.  I have been the secretary of NECDAF for nearly two years and have played a vital role in its development.I believe that NECDAF can play a very important role in bringing about the diversity, better understanding and harmonious relationships in the region by creating a common platform for artists and arts organisations. I run a business which employs more than 250 staff that has given me tremendous confidence and experience in management, quality assurance, organisational skills, team work, business planning recruitment employment laws and so on. Based on the experience and knowledge I have gained through my social, volunteering and business life, I believe that I have got something to offer to NECDAF.

Joint Secretary: Caroline Afolabi
I want to see cultural diversity promoted through arts & cultural activities. I believe beautiful things are created when cultures work together. I run a social enterprise with volunteers mainly from the Universities of Newcastle & Northumbria supporting young people in their study and language development. Currently, we’re running an Afro-Caribbean holiday club where young people learn phrases and songs in an African language, cook an African meal and we’re producing a play on the victory over slavery. It is my dream to run an African Cultural Centre in Newcastle where different workshops will be running, alongside an African bookshop, music store and restaurant.

Joint Secretary: Yve Ngoo
I have been working in the diverse arts and culture sector for about 20 years as a writer/practitioner, then as a film maker and scriptwriter after graduation from North east media Training Centre. I was a founder member of The Black Arts Network, based in Newcastle – a group that supported and developed BME artists and practitioners based in the region. I worked in grant making, grant management and arts development specifically for artists and cultural activities from the BME communities. I also helped collate one of the first Black History Archives in the region – online, which can be seen on the BBC Where I Live webpage’s. In 2002 I became The Roots Project Co-ordinator for BBC Radio Newcastle. I also devised produced and directed the first multicultural soap opera for local radio – called Jordan Road.

Treasurer: Shef Popat
As an individual, my future ambition is to be involved more in the regional arts and culture sector.  The BME arts sector is fast developing and as a business person I feel that I can contribute significacntly through my business skills.  I am particularly interested to play a strategic role in the BME arts sector and be a part of this evolving landscape.  I also see this as a development opportunity for myself as it will give me an opportunity to network with other arts and non-arts professionals, increase my understanding of the needs of the arts sector and develop my knowledge about the emerging trends within the arts.

Tina Gharavi
I believe that there is a need for a viable regional BME umbrella arts organisation. I currently serve on the Regional Arts Council board and can bring some support to NECDAF, enabling them to meet opportunities that arise from arts funding. I’ll contribute my experience of governance (I have served on the Tyneside Cinema board for over 4-years) and experience of running an arts organisations for over 10-years. I’m also active in the education sector, both higher education and non-mainstream sector and I have a life-long commitment to race-equality issues.
 
Sue Hurrell
For the past five years I have been Central Arts Officer for Gateshead Council. I am currently responsible for every aspect of the programme of the Council’s venue, The Caedmon Hall. I regularly promote music of non-western origin, including high profile African musicians. My programme, The Sounds of Freedom, [part of the Sugar and Spice Festival] is a series of concerts of classical music, written by black composers and freed slaves. I believe this is the first such series of it’s kind in the country. I have a wide experience as a performer and promoter, and have an in-depth understanding of all aspects of the business. My interest and enthusiasm for all cultural activities, and my breadth of understanding of the arts in the region make me an asset to your Board.

Gururaj Prasad

I have been an active member of Kalapremi, UK for over 15 years, and am currently the Chair of this organisation. Kalapremi, UK is a charity in the disability arts field in the North East for over two decades. We have an active programme of involving schools and young people in County Durham, apart from attracting high profile artists from the South Asian Sub-Continent.

I have been involved with NECDAF since its inception and wish to continue to serve the organisation for a further period. My management experience and expertise in the NHS and Kalapremi is what I bring to NECDAF

Florence Jidong Qiu
Founder and chairperson of Sino-Anglo Cultural Exchange Association since 1992. The Vice chair of London Chinese Cultural Centre. Trustee of Newcastle Chinese Festivity Group. Former assessor and monitor of dance department of Arts Council in London, former trustee and board member of Chinese Centre NE and Roshni women’s centre. And the member of NDSO and EPTA. The partnership of University of Newcastle, Discovery Museum and Tyneside Cinema. Over these years, organised a lot of festivals, concerts, workshops and the artists from China or from UK. Public events or to the schools.

Tony Suadwa
I have been the Chair of North East England African Cultural Association since its inception in 1979 and have been involved in a lot of community and arts work in schools offering workshops in drumming, dance, story-telling and singing. I’d like to see the arts in this region enhanced and that artists are given support which is why I look forward to continue serving  NECDAF