Hi, I am Shelley and I am passionate about Carlisle and everything we have to offer. Having been born and raised in Carlisle, I am keen to see the city develop for future generations; taking an active role in my community allows me to be part of that. A big passion of mine is ensuring that kids get every opportunity to reach their potential no matter what their background or circumstances. I support that through my role as a Governor and as a mentor at Carlisle Youth Zone. Being part of the Tullie Community Board provides such a unique opportunity to help raise the profile of the city as well as help develop a place which is very special to me and my kids. Alongside my community work, I am a mum to 2 daring girls, wife to John and work for the Cumberland Building Society in their People & Culture Team. 

I’m a lifelong visitor to Tullie House. I loved it first as a library as a child. Now as a mother I visit the museum, enjoying recently the CUFC exhibition. I took up art this year after attending Tullie House art classes. Now I love art and look forward to seeing art here.

I’m looking forward to helping others and being part of the future of Tullie House.

I am an archaeological illustrator who moved to Carlisle over a decade ago. Tullie has been a focus for me in my work and a way to feed my love of art, history and culture in all the changing exhibits and events.

I have a deep passion for making history accessible to everyone and feel my experience in showcasing archaeological discoveries to the general public gives me a good basis to support this work with Tullie. I feel lucky to live in Cumbria which has a long history of talented artists and Tullie has helped bring them to the forefront for the public and I am excited to be able to be a part of this in the future.

When the opportunity to be involved came up, I knew I wanted to be a part of how Tullie changes and improves for the community in the coming years.

My name is Jyma. I am an autistic person with life-long mental health issues. I live in Carlisle with my parents. It is important to me that I see myself as a visual artist with a disability, rather than a disabled artist. In the main my paintings/drawings are based on my Christian faith, which is terribly important to me and keeps me going.  In the future, I look forward to holding an exhibition of my religious artwork in Carlisle.  

I go to Prism Arts three days a week to work on visual arts and theatre studies. Prism Arts is great; good for me, because it allows me the time and space necessary, like I say, to work on my visual art projects. I also devote a good deal of time and effort to writing, in particular, writing for the stage.  Recently, along with several other would-be dramatists, I have participated in Zoom sessions run by Theatre by the Lake based in Keswick, which I found incredibly useful.   

As a frequent visitor to Tullie, it goes without saying I am proud to serve as a member on the Tullie Community Board. I sincerely believe Tullie never fails to represent Carlisle and the surrounding area in the best possible light, so well-done Tullie! 

I’m passionate about bringing people together, amplifying young voices, and creating spaces where everyone feels valued. With a background in communication and education, I’ve worked across diverse fields, including radio, research, and teaching at all levels.

Im originally from Mexico, and since moving to Scotland in 2018, I’ve been actively involved in community engagement and youth development. I volunteered with Girlguiding, first as a Unit Helper and later as a coach, mentoring young women in designing and delivering social impact projects. I also served as an External Trustee, helping shape the organisation’s strategic direction. In education, I worked as a teaching assistant, supporting both mainstream and neurodivergent students.

Now based in Carlisle, I’ve gained experience in local schools and have volunteered with charities like Multicultural Cumbria, delivering workshops that celebrate diversity and inclusion. For the past three years, I’ve been the Youth and Community Engagement Officer at The Devil’s Porridge Museum, where I organise events, mentor young volunteers, and lead projects on climate change, migration, and the meaning of home. I also help young people gain qualifications like the Saltire Awards and Duke of Edinburgh Awards, preparing them for their future careers.

As a Community Board Member at Tullie, I’m excited to keep fostering meaningful connections, empowering young people, and ensuring museums remain inclusive, engaging spaces for everyone.

Hi, my name is Diana Vlad and I currently work as a Housing Support Worker for Carlisle Key. I’m originally from Romania and I came to this country when I was 19 to attend University in Carlisle. I’ve graduated with my MA in Sociology from Lancaster University in 2019. I’m mostly passionate about helping others, my goal is to have a positive impact in society where it is needed the most. I’m grateful to have an opportunity to be a volunteer for the Community Board at Tullie and share new ideas through community engagement. 

My name is Liza and I am an illustration student from a village in between Penrith and Carlisle. I have a strong interest in art and community work and have volunteered in many other community roles such as at Penrith library during the summer reading challenge. I was also a member of (formerly) Eden Youth Council for 5 years, speaking up for young people in Cumbria. I am keen to help figure out how we can get more young adults to Tullie House. 

I am a quilter and budding textile artist. My work is influenced by the natural world, historical places and artifacts. I have a teaching background and have been involved in environmental education and youth work in diverse settings.

Tullie’s role has evolved from merely preserving, collecting, and presenting collections to actively supporting, nurturing, and uniting the surrounding communities. I am excited to be a new member of Tullie’s Community Board and am looking forward to being part of its future.

I have worked as a miner, millworker, peat stacker and postman. I have worked with homeless men, trained as a social worker, volunteer counsellor for CADAS (Cumbria Addictions: Advice and Solutions), an Approved Mental Health Practitioner and manager of Cumbria’s DoLS Team (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards).

I have payed King Lear in a cupboard, Sir Toby Belch in the Fratry and took part in a play raising awareness around Fibromyalgia at the Theatre on the Lake. I am a father, grandfather, poet and musician.

I came to Cumbria over 35 years ago, fell in love with my partner and wife; the fells of the Lake District and Tullie House, in that order. I love Tullie because it is a part of Carlisle’s history and has served its community as a source of knowledge, history and culture for many years. I want it to continue this rich tradition and to make it accessible and meaningful to as many people as possible, both local and visiting. I want to help Tullie share the amazing artefacts, beautiful art, rich understanding of bio diversity and social history widely and to bring art and culture from around the world to this city.

I’m a business owner and multidisciplinary artist. I create contemporary art and designs from recycled materials inspired by my African heritage and life in the UK. I joined the Community Board to support and build on Tullie’s work in representation, community voice, and inclusive creative spaces and I’m looking forward to contributing alongside this inspiring group.

Being a part of Tullie’s Community Board is an amazing opportunity; I love being part of conversations that spark new ideas and that help build more inclusive spaces.