Kaltum Osman Rivers, Board Member of Sheffield's Utopia Theatre, is a Black woman who wears a pink hijab. She is taking the image herself, and smiling at the camera.
Changing Faces

Utopia Theatre appoints board member

Arts Professional
2 min read

KALTUM OSMAN RIVERS is joining Sheffield-based Utopia Theatre as a board member.

Having lived and worked in Sheffield since 2005, Rivers was the first female African councillor elected in South Yorkshire and previously held the position of commissioner for the Race Equality Commission in Sheffield.

She is also a former Black and Minority Development Officer for Children and Young People at Voluntary Action Sheffield.

Rivers previously worked at CK Consultancy Group as a Senior Researcher. Having led research in health inequality, education and social care, she is also currently completing her PhD in Sociology at The University of Sheffield.

Utopia Theatre is to become part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio for its 2023-26 funding round.

With the organisational aim to empower and engage African communities in arts and culture, Chair MAXINE GREAVES MBE said she “can think of nobody better to do that alongside us”.

Rivers added: “So much has been achieved already, in particular in telling important stories about African heritage to new audiences, and I’m looking forward to helping to drive the theatre forward as it reaches even more people.

“It is my intention to use my experience and connections to bolster Utopia Theatre’s success by making sure we are in as many South Yorkshire communities as possible.”