Rebecca Friel MBE
Co-founder & CEO Odd Arts
Education cannot only be sitting people at desks, telling them how the world and its subjects are already understood. At best, education provides life-long, diverse, creative experiences that prepare us for a life led by values & curiosity, not just pre-set rules. With care & space, it enables us to explore complex social, political and emotional issues and empowers us to imagine new possibilities for ourselves and the world around us.
Rebecca co-founded the Manchester charity Odd Arts in 2004. Odd Arts uses theatre to address inequalities & increase opportunities for people facing disadvantage & discrimination; working with around 30,000 people each year in schools, prisons and communities. The charity was set up after Rebecca completed a degree in drama at The University of Manchester, and undertook an inspirational placement in Rio-de-Janeiro with the theatre practitioner and political activist Augusto Boal. Rebecca passionately advocates for theatre as a tool for social justice & cohesion, particularly within the criminal justice system, education and communities. Rebecca sits on the National Arts Alliance for Criminal Justice Advisory Group, RAN Practitioners Expert Pool, and is Vice Chair of Trustees for the Lawrence Batley Theatre. Rebecca was awarded an MBE for services to Education & Communities in Manchester.
Rebecca is also a mother of four, a foster carer, and a grass-roots football enthusiast.