Read more about the way I work, who I've worked with and the impact it's had on their project, organisation and participants.
*** My company supports participants, artists and cultural/ heritage venues to bring MORE art and creative experiences to 'harder to reach' communities.
I'm a professional 'Engagement Manager' and my work is heart centred and considered.
I have seen first hand over 20 years how the arts impacts our wellbeing.
I've worked in a plethora of settings from working one to one with young people, in Special Educational Needs schools to beaches, national galleries to small rural theatres.
My work has transformed and brought joy to everyone from babies to older people.
I'm passionate about working with organisations and artists to find strategic ways to engage and reach people who wouldn't ordinary engage in the arts and kindle a life long connection to their creativity and taking up space in our cultural landscape.
I've written and worked as a project manager on millions of pounds worth of successful funding bids over the years. My projects have received two Journal Culture Awards (09,19)
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I'm confident if you have a project idea, together we can find the team to make it happen.
If you'd like to read client testimonials please head here.
- 'Voice of the Child' and 'Voice of the Creative' for Action for Children - 'Colour to the Grey' and '5days of art and wellbeing' for bait, Museums Northumberland - 'Explore Art with Woodhorn Museum' - 'Dragon and Bird' for Alnwick Playhouse
Fundraising Projects
I am a skilled fundraiser and have raised funding for the following clients and projects;
- Action for Children - Arts engagement programme for early years. - Alnwick Playhouse Arts Development Programme - Juice - NewcastleGateshead's Festival for Children and Young People
Personal Practise
I am passionate about finding ways to bring my lived experience into my creative practise as a creative producer and engagement consultant. Over the last few years I have conceptualised and fundraised for two projects which have enabled me to understand my participants at a deeper level and design interactive creative activities and experiences for them. My pandemic project ran in tandem with my own pregnancy and maternity leave. Creativity Island for Mums saw thousands of mothers with young children engage in our specially designed arts engagement projects to incite joy, wellbeing and a life long connection to their creativity as care givers.
Personal Practise - Creativity Island for Mums
An Arts Council funded year long arts engagement project for mums and their little ones.
Creativity Island tested models of engaging participants in accessible ways (both digitally and in person) with artist led activities over the pandemic.
It culminated with the creation of a wellbeing and memory making journal. It's for sale, if you'd like to buy a copy.
I co-organised a day of connection, performance and presentation for the forum and it's guests to spark further conversation and collaboration.
I also presented, facilitated conversation around creativity, partnerships and sustainability.
Designing and Facilitating eco conscious projects
Co-creating beach art works with artists Judith Davies and Yvette Ja for Action for Children children's centre in Newbiggin by the Sea.
My client, Action for Children wanted a 'fun' and 'accessible' way to introduce children and their families to working with artists. The beach was a perfect backdrop for conversation with them in a relaxed environment so we could plan next steps.
Technology Exploration - Come on in, the kettle's on!
I'm experimenting and learning about 360 video as part of my content engagement research project funded by Creative UK via North of the Tyne Combined Authority.
I'm hoping to engage those who identify as neurodivergent and those who live with chronic health conditions to better understand how they would like to engage and feel connected to arts, culture, heritage and artists UK wide.
Arts and Schools Partnerships
"Pages of the Sea' - National Trust, Berwick Visual Arts School's Engagement Project
I was commissioned by National Trust to engage children and local people in an engagement project for their 'Pages of the Sea' tour in the North East. To stir up interest and excitement around the tour and the armistice day event marking 100 years since the end of the war. Working with an artist, we created and installed 100 origami poppies and an interactive artwork by local children on their local beach.
Engagement with children and young people
Working with over 70 young people aged between 10 and 18 to introduce ideas around live art and art activism.
With theatre director Natalie Querol and artist Amy Lord we took over an empty shop and a dis-used pub in Blyth for an event led and curated by a small group of young people called: ‘5 days of Art, Activism & Wellbeing’ to engage and talk directly with their community and explore the idea of citizenship in multiple forms.
With a modest budget, I brought together Andersen Press, Unfolding Theatre, Newbiggin Town Council and produced a project for Action for Children which saw a permanent installation and trail installed for families and tourists in Newbiggin by the Sea.
Interactive audio stories created by local children and Unfolding Theatre
Supporting Artists
I supported artist Amy Lord in her digital engagement project 'The Story of you and Me'. Amy worked with me for eight months to reach new audiences and tell the story of creating a book for special stories and memories. I also mentored Amy to support her with public speaking and confidence online.
I'd love to work with you on your creative project idea, drop me a line or give me a call.
Whatver stage you are at from conception to delivery I can help.
