The 14 ambassadors were nominated by organisations on Oldham’s Cultural Partnership Board for their connections to the borough and work in local communities.

They will attend events, share activities through their networks and encourage residents to take part in the cultural programme.

Subnum Harriff-Khan, Oldham Council’s head of libraries, heritage and arts, said: “Culture in Oldham isn’t just about what happens on a stage or inside a gallery. It’s in the stories people tell, the groups that bring communities together and the creativity found across our borough.

“That’s exactly what our ambassadors represent. They all have their own connection to Oldham and have already done so much for their communities.”

The ambassadors are:

  • Abdul Malik Ahad, chair of Peshkar, who first attended one of its workshops at Werneth Park Music Rooms in 1991.

  • Mark Newsome, an Oldham-born actor and comedian who began performing at Oldham Theatre Workshop before training at the National Youth Theatre and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

  • Sean Connolly, an actor and volunteer who helps organise Friends of Oldham Coliseum events and co-hosts the Coli Cast podcast with Julie Hesmondhalgh.

  • Anne Bardsley, an artist known for animal and wildlife pictures and vice-chair of the Friends of Gallery Oldham.

  • Phaedra Patrick, a bestselling novelist who grew up in Werneth and regularly visited Oldham Library.

  • Sam Meyer, a Chadderton-born actor who started at Oldham Theatre Workshop and has appeared in Hollyoaks.

  • Caitlin O’Ryan, an actor and poet who developed her interest in performing at Oldham Theatre Workshop and has performed at Glastonbury.

  • Yasmin Toor, a poet, writer and community leader who became Oldham’s first Asian woman councillor in 2010 and later served as Mayoress.

  • Mark Prest, an Oldham-born curator and founder of Portraits of Recovery, which uses art to explore addiction and recovery.

  • Matt Dean, who runs Northern Media Co at 1853 Studios, produces podcasts and supports local artists.

  • Amy Bent, an Oldham Sixth Form College student who has taken leading roles in college productions and participated in a film project with Screen Manchester.

  • Kashif Ashraf, Oldham president of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and a member of several local boards.

  • Jake Talbot, an Oldham College teacher and writer for Dare to Know Theatre Company.

  • Hassan Ali Jabbar, Oldham’s Youth Mayor for 2026/27, from Hollinwood, who is also completing a mechanical engineering apprenticeship.

The ambassadors will begin taking part in events and activities over the coming months.

Details of the programme are available on Oldham’s Town of Culture website.