About Us

CDCC is a consultancy created in 2008 by William Culver-Dodds, former Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festivals.   CDCC works with a number of Associates with many years experience in the cultural, higher education and property sectors. 

As a highly experienced cultural entrepreneur who combines creativity and enthusiasm with commercial realism, William is a passionate advocate for increasing accessibility to cultural activities.  He has direct experience of creating, planning, collaborating and raising significant funding for cultural activities that deliver extensive economic, cultural and social impacts.   

He has over 28 years expertise in generating income from across the public and statutory sectors at local, regional and national levels . He has extensive experience of raising funding from charitable trusts and foundations, and has created award winning brand and CSR sponsorships for commercial and higher education partners.

William is Vice-Chair of the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) Europe, where he has developed wide-ranging interdisciplinary networks across the international cultural sector.

William is Associate Director of Festivals & Events International. FEI is a company created by some very experienced people. FEI's mission is to provide advice and project management for agencies wishing to use cultural events to shape their cities or regions and to assist in delivering their regeneration, cultural tourism, profile-raising or quality of life ambitions.

FEI’s directors have many years experience organising and leading some of the world’s great festivals.  FEI's clients are public agencies or consortia looking to use festivals and events to achieve their local, national and international ambitions as well as those wishing to organise new events or who need support and advice for existing festivals. To find out more visit the FEI website.

William is a visiting lecturer for the Cultural Management MSc course at University of Sheffield and is an Open College Network trainer for the CIDA (Creative Industries Development Agency).  In January 2009, William was appointed the Visiting Fellow for festivals, arts and culture at Leeds Metropolitan University. 

During his career at HIF he transformed the summer festival into an internationally acclaimed event presenting artists of all genres, and grew the organisation into a year-round cultural powerhouse, setting up an exciting portfolio of innovative festivals and events including:-

Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival the world's leading  celebration of crime fiction plus the prestigious 'Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year' award.

Since 1995 a vibrant Community & Education programme, focussed primarily in presenting activities in rural communities was recognised with HIF's appointment to lead the North Yorkshire Youth Music Action Zone which reaches rurally and socially excluded young people all across the region.

The Carnegie Sporting Words Festival in partnership with Leeds Met and BBC Sport. The world's 1st festival celebrating the words of sport featuring top sports stars, journalists and bradcasters. The Festival was the UK's first cultural event to gain a prestigious London 2012 Cultural Olympiad 'Inspire Mark'.

The H20 Festival, an outdoor performance arts spectacular on Fewston Reservoir presented the Women in White, in partnership with Yorkshire Water click link to watch a video presentation of the Festival.

The expansion of the Harrogate International Summer Music Festival during William's tenure saw Van Morrison, Amy Winehouse,
Wynton Marsalis, B.B King, Nigel Kennedy, Dionne Warwick, Clare Teal, Alfred Brendel, Mariza, Sa Dingding, Youssou N’Dour and many leading national and international performers, dance companies and orchestras.