Board

Dannie Kjeldgaard is a professor at the University of Southern Denmark and internationally recognized within consumer research and cultural theory. With his background in marketing, management, and cultural understanding, Dannie brings strong analytical and strategic competencies to the Academy’s board. He has published extensive research and has been active in international networks and boards, including as former editor-in-chief of Consumption, Markets & Culture and as a member of the advisory board for The Funen Village.

With a background in her political work in Bornholm County Council and the Danish Parliament, Eva Fatum has broad political connections as well as a strong interest in and knowledge of cultural policy.
She was an active inspirer and driving force for the Nyrup Rasmussen government during ‘fiskerikrisen’ of the 1990s, when Bornholm’s main industry, fishing, was transformed and the island was repositioned as rich in art and culture. Food production on Bornholm was also shifted from quantity to quality.

Eva Fatum is a trained nurse educator and holds a Master’s degree in adult learning as well as a certification as a coach.

Susanne Crawley is a new board member with extensive experience in both the healthcare sector and municipal politics.
Crawley previously served as a senior consultant (consultant physician) in the oncology department at Odense University Hospital until 2014, when she was elected to Odense City Council and, in the same year, appointed Councillor for the Children and Youth Department. Through her central political role, strong network, and experience overseeing municipal initiatives for young people, Crawley brings significant expertise in education as well as in developing strong communities for children and youth.
In addition, Crawley is a prominent figure in Odense’s cultural life, serving as chair of the Odense Arts Council and as a member of the board of Odense Theatre.

Søren Hüttel is a trained visual artist educated from Funen Art Academy.
Alongside his own artistic practice, which primarily includes public art, sculpture, and painting, Søren has for many years worked with the political aspects of the art field. This includes issues such as artists’ working conditions, diversity, and inclusion through his membership on the board of the Danish Visual Artists Association and through his work with the Danish Academy Council.
As a teacher and project manager at Vera – School of Art and Design, Søren has worked on developing the pedagogical field aimed at strengthening the teaching qualifications of visual arts educators.

Poul W. Falck holds degrees in Business Administration (HA) and Accounting (HD). He worked at Falck Emergency Services for 35 years in senior management positions and served as a city council politician from 2006 to 2013, with seats on, among others, the municipal Committees for Urban Development and Culture, Employment, the Green Council, and Children and Youth.
Falck is actively involved in Odense’s cultural life, particularly in music and visual arts. He has a strong network both politically and in the business community, partly through his numerous board positions within the cultural sector. Poul W. Falck is currently a board member of the music venues Posten/Dexter and the Odense Live Sponsor Association.
He is currently engaged in forestry and farming, with a particular interest in nature and ecological restoration.

Maria Bruun Eichhorn has broad experience in development work, strategic management, and process management. Over more than a decade, she has worked with organizational transformation, artistic planning, and the management of cultural institutions. As a project manager, she has handled a wide range of art-related issues within a municipal context.
In her board work, Eichhorn has particularly focused on revitalization, anchoring, and political advocacy.

Susan Nørgaard is a commercial leader with solid experience in scaling technology companies and strategic business development. As an independent professional, she works with driving growth, partnerships, and market positioning in traditional industries undergoing transformation. She has strong competencies in sales, branding, and relationship building, and works strategically to create visibility, demand, and long-term collaborations. Susan has particular experience navigating the intersection of innovation, technology, and established industries.

Kristoffer Akselbo is based in Odense and educated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Visual Arts in 2006. His practice spans performance, digital platforms, film, and photography, with a focus on performative and interactive structures.
Akselbo has extensive teaching experience, including his work as a guest artist at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and, most recently, as an associate professor at Funen Art Academy since 2020. He is the initiator of several alternative exhibition spaces, and in 2019 he received a three-year working grant from the Danish Arts Foundation, as well as the Torjussen Grant in 2021 and the Aage & Yelva Nimb Foundation Honorary Grant in 2024.
Kristoffer Akselbo currently serves on the Artists’ Society Jury and the Odense Arts Council.