Dylan Jake awarded one of Northamptonshire’s highest civic honours

The recognition reflects the scale and consistency of Dylan Jake’s voluntary contribution to Northamptonshire’s creative and community landscape. He has dedicated significant unpaid time to the governance, development, and delivery of inclusive arts and wellbeing programmes across the county.

As a co-founder and director of Lumina Arts Alliance CIC, Dylan has played a central role in shaping the organisation’s strategic direction, partnerships, and operational foundations. His work has focused on building accessible, well-structured programmes that remove barriers to participation while maintaining strong governance, safeguarding, and accountability.

Rather than drawing a salary, Dylan’s contribution has been offered entirely in service of Lumina’s mission. The Lady Juliet Townsend Award formally acknowledges the often unseen work involved in building sustainable community infrastructure that enables others to participate, develop, and thrive.

Dylan has consistently emphasised that Lumina’s impact is the result of collective effort across its directors, facilitators, partners, and participants, and that the organisation’s achievements are rooted in shared responsibility and collaboration.

Dylan extended his thanks to Jack Savage, Louise Troy, Louise Brook, and Ewan Kay for their ongoing collaboration and shared dedication to Lumina Arts Alliance’s community-focused mission.

Building Inclusive Creative Infrastructure

Under Dylan’s leadership, Lumina Arts Alliance has become a recognised hub for community arts, accessible creativity, and wellbeing-focused programming. Through partnerships with schools, councils, charities, and community organisations, the organisation has delivered workshops, exhibitions, outreach initiatives, and development pathways supporting families, young people who are NEET, underserved communities, SEND participants, and emerging creatives.

This honour follows Dylan’s earlier receipt of the Rose of Northamptonshire Award, a joint recognition presented by West & North Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire Community Foundation, and county partners. Receiving both honours reflects a sustained trajectory of civic impact and affirms that his contribution is valued at the highest levels of local governance and philanthropy.

Looking Ahead

Looking forward, Dylan’s ambition is to continue strengthening Lumina Arts Alliance as a central creative and community hub for Northamptonshire, expanding access to high-quality programmes and developing clearer pathways for creative development, wellbeing, and opportunity.

Reflecting on the award, Dylan described it as a meaningful acknowledgement of long-term voluntary service and a reinforcement of his commitment to building inclusive, community-led structures that support creativity and connection across the county.