Graham Callister

Graham is Head of Festivals, Events and Cultural Policy at Leicester City Council, and responsible for overseeing the delivery of major city cultural events that include annual Diwali celebrations and recent BBC Radio 2 Live in the Park, management of the council’s festival and events funding, and driving the development of a new Leicester Cultural and Creative Industries Strategy.

Prior to his current role he was Director of Festivals at Birmingham Hippodrome leading the development of major festivals and events as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 Festival Programme that included B-Side Hip Hop Festival and Birmingham Weekender.

Graham has also produced large-scale festivals and projects as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and EU Culture Programme following an earlier career in management consultancy.  Graham has previously been a Board Director for Culture Central and a Council Member for national deafblind charity Sense, and is currently a serving Board member and Treasurer for Outdoor Arts UK.