Emma was born in West Cumbria where her mother ensured she was exposed to as many aspects of the arts as the rural location allowed. After completing a degree in Textile Management at Leeds University she has worked within many aspects of the textiles industry from manufacturing and retail to supply chain management. Emma has always loved to travel and …

Hello! I’m Katy and I work here at The Kirkgate doing the Finance and Admin. I moved to Cockermouth in April 2024 and have been overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of the community here, particularly The Kirkgate, who have welcomed me into this fantastic space. My background lies in contemporary dance, which I like to describe as an excuse …

Katie grew up in Cockermouth and, after a few years away in various roles and cities, moved back in 2003. She started volunteering at the Kirkgate Centre in 2014 in the box office, with the music programming group and the Friends of the Kirkgate fund raising committee. Always willing to get stuck in, it wasn’t long before she started assisting …

After graduating with a degree in archaeology, Helen worked as a volunteer manager for different health, youth and disability charities. In more recent years she has been running community arts and heritage projects, focusing on projects that involve local people and highlight the stories from the past that are often overlooked. Helen grew up in Cockermouth and always planned to …