Mr Daniel Schunmann DL

Daniel is founder and Chairman of Trustees for Viva Arts and Community Group. Viva is a Queen’s Award-winning arts charity with a 25-year track record of excellence. Over the years Daniel has raised over £4 million for Viva including the funding to build its own theatre – East Cambridgeshire’s only purpose-built theatre. Daniel has also served as a Town Councillor, Vice Chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council and a County Councillor. In 2005 Daniel became the youngest ever magistrate to be appointed to the Cambridge Bench and served as a magistrate for 7 years. In 2004 Daniel was appointed a Fellow of The Royal Society of the Arts, and in 2008 was entered into the ’Who’s Who’ of Britain’s Business Elite. In 2019 Daniel was awarded The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (East) Councillors Cup for his contribution to the arts. Daniel is also a member of the Arts Council Area Council for the South-East and has previously served as a trustee for Arts Development in East Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services and Ely Soham and District Community Transport. Daniel is also a full member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

Daniel does all of this while also maintaining and developing a very successful career as a theatre producer. In 2012 Daniel received a prestigious Society of London Theatre new Producer Bursary and used the money to commission a stage adaptation of the hit film ‘Ladies in Lavender’. He then toured the production around the UK with Hayley Mills in the lead; and the production won 5 Broadway World Awards. Daniel then produced ‘Bully Boy’ starring Anthony Andrews, which was the opening production of the new St James Theatre in London. Other productions include a UK Tour of ‘Duet for One’ (starring Belinda Lang), the west end production of ‘Quiz’ by James Graham, ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Oresteia’ in New York and the UK tour of ‘Rebus: Long Shadows’ by Ian Rankin. Daniel continues to produce in London, across the UK and in Australia and New York.

Currently Daniel is Creative Director for a major arts venue in Suffolk.