Anna Disley

Executive Director, Programme & Impact, New Writing North

Anna is Executive Director (Programmes and Impact) at New Writing North, the development agency for creative writing and reading in the North of England. As part of the Executive team Anna is responsible for initiating and developing programmes of work, delivery partnerships, and funding models which engage people in the agency’s work, especially those from under-represented communities.  This includes talent development programmes, events and festivals and extensive community engagement programmes.  

Besides working closely with writers and artists to realise their ambitions, Anna is interested in the role of arts and culture in supporting connected communities, combatting loneliness and in promoting wellbeing and literacy.  

Anna is Chair of Newcastle Cultural Education Partnership – a group of school and cultural leaders who aim to provide every young person in the city with a rich and accessible cultural offer and is part of the Newcastle Cultural Compact, the group which produces the city’s cultural strategy and action plan. She is a Trustee of Open Clasp Theatre Company and Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust and is on the board of Directors and Advisory Group for Digital start up, The Living Archive.