Cleo Lake

Cleo has established her political reputation as a strong social justice activist and campaigner, particularly regarding anti-austerity and issues affecting African heritage communities. Cleo was elected as a Councillor for Cotham (2016-2021) serving as Deputy Green Group Leader within that term and an MEP Candidate.

She was also the first Green Party Lord Mayor of Bristol (2018-2019) and was elected as a Councillor for Cotham (2016-2020). Whilst not standing to be re-elected as a councillor again, Cleo will be campaigning as the Green Party candidate to become the next Police & Crime Commissioner of Avon & Somerset.

Involved within the arts and culture sector for almost two decades, Cleo’s experience includes being a dance teacher, film maker, poet, curator, Chair of St Pauls Carnival, Arts and Events Manager for Stapleton Road, Radio producer and presenter on Ujima, and writer in residence at the Arnolfini. She is currently an actress with Sheba Soul Ensemble, Director of international arts organisation Black Artists On The Move, Choreographer with newly formed Libations Dance Company and leads a weekly zoom exercise class for elders.

Cleo is driven by the idea of utilising art and expanded performance to aid civic engagement and to reframe storytelling as a resilience tool to embed cultural knowledge, empathy, understanding and cohesion.

As a politician, Cleo has been a board member for Destination Bristol, Bristol Cultural Development Partnership, Chair of the Downs Committee and serves on the Avon Fire Authority, Chairing the People and Culture Committee and represents the Green / Independent group nationally, as a Fire Diversity Champion and on the Fire Services Management Committee and Fire Strategic Resilience Board.