The Team
Cowley Road Works is made up of a board of volunteer trustees, an Executive Director, a number of volunteer advisers and a small but dedicated freelance staff team who work part time to cover all aspects of organising the event. If you would like to find out about joining the team please see vacancies, join or team of volunteers or email director@cowleyroadworks.org
Sean Duvall is responsible for CRW strategies and fundraising and brings vast experience in international education and events. He is passionate about the Carnival and looking forward to using his experience to positively impact with CRW. He says: “Here at Cowley Road Works we are incredibly excited about the Cowley Road Carnival for 2021. We are busy making plans to reach as many people as possible in the most creative way with the most brilliant art, music and performance. After the year we have all faced, the opportunity to celebrate our communities is more important than ever and we cannot wait to bring Carnival to you on 4th July 2021.’
Author, researcher, event organiser and consultant Pax is a carnival expert and guru. He has been involved in UK and international carnivals since the mid-80s. He has served as a senior member in the Arts Council of England national office, written the 2007 National Carnival Arts Strategy and the book On Route Carnival. He has produced international Carnival Conferences, researched and initiated International Carnival Fellowships in Brazil, Trinidad, Europe and USA.
Pax directed Bristol’s St Paul’s Carnival, was Creative Director for Europe’s only purpose built Carnival Centre (UKCCA) where he produced and directed Eastern region Olympics carnival project “Carnival Cross Roads”, directed the Luton International Carnival, the Brazil Encontro and European projects in Denmark, UK, Hungary and Germany. He is currently the Vice President of the World Carnival Commission (Canada), Company Director of Circus Development Agency, Patron for the Charity Soul of Africa and Carnaval del Peublo, Creative Director for Hackney and also Hull International Carnivals.
Pax has been a fundraiser and cultural arts consultant for various arts organisations including Leeds Carnival (UK), Junkanoo Commandos (Bahamas), Notting Hill Carnival (UK), Yle de Egba (Brazil), Miami Carnival (USA) Recife Carnival (Brazil), Carifete (Canada), Rampage Mas Band (UK) and Tumaini Education Trust (Kenya).
Get in touch with Sarah if you would like more information about Carnival for articles and broadcast. Also if you would like to get involved as an official film-maker or photographer. Sarah has her own marketing communications and PR consultancy, the Buzzworks, and joined the team to publicise the Carnival for the first time in summer 2014. She has extensive experience and works with many businesses in Oxfordshire and beyond. She also organises the annual Blenheim 7k charity run at Blenheim Palace.
marketing@cowleyroadworks.org / sarah.airey@thebuzzworks.co.uk
Heather was a founder member of the team involved in setting up Oxfringe (Oxford’s Fringe Festival), becoming Festival Director in 2011. Alongside her role at Cowley Road Carnival she is a published playwright.
Benjamin hopes that his experience working with large outdoor events combined with his love of music and the arts will lead to a fruitful relationship with Cowley Road Works in his role as Technical Coordinator. He has proven experience working with the vibrant dynamics of Oxford, including being the lead Event Management contractor for the St. Giles Fair, Site Manager for Oxford Christmas Light Festival and Production Manager for May Morning. He is keen to dive deeper into Oxfords cultural offerings and help continue to make the carnival a success.
Benjamin has also worked as part of the event control team for Boomtown Festival, as a entrance manager for the London New Year Firework Show and as part of the production team behind Brighton Pride.
If you want to contact Benjamin, please email technical@cowleyroadworks.org
Nick comes to Carnival with a background of working at music festivals in the UK and experience in most areas of event management – including volunteer recruitment and coordinating. He loves working as part of a team and he says: “Helping to make events happen is a real passion of mine.
” I am super excited to get involved in the Carnival this year. The opportunity to work within a community project like this is something that inspires me more than anything, a chance for us all to give back and help create a platform for everyone to have a great time and express themselves.”
If you want to volunteer or contact Nick please email: volunteers@cowleyroadworks.org
Nicole set up and organises the Oxford Christmas Market which she founded in 2009. She has also been involved in the Christmas Light Festival as stalls manager and has organised the stalls for Cowley Road Carnival since 2017.
If you want to book a stall or contact Nicole please email: stalls@cowleyroadworks.org
Volunteers are vital to our team. We have all sorts of roles available to work with us throughout the year – from helping with our accounts and book-keeping to photograhy, social media and marketing to stewarding on Carnival Day itself.
If you would like to join our team of volunteers please email volunteers@cowleyroadworks.org
We rely on the enthusiastic support of our Board of Volunteer Trustees.
We currently have vacancies to join the Board. So if you have an interest in the Arts and Culture, or feel you have experience and knowledge to offer, please contact us at director@cowleyroadworks.org