About
I have worked in Arts and Culture all my life. Starting as a sound engineer on West End shows in the hey day of British Musicals. It was a hands on experience in the world of live performance - it was the best fun but also allowed me to observe what it takes to bring a gigantic project with multiple strands to life.
Humans bringing stories to life - that is what we do isn’t it?
After 15 years of hard listening I was invited to take on a management role for a local authority and enjoyed running a venue for many years - stretching its walls and expanding it’s outreach. Working with amazing people who understood and cared what a regional venue can bring to the community in which it is embedded.
Working collaboratively and kindly towards an end goal... sounds good, right?
When offered the opportunity to undertake a Masters degree in the Creative Industries it seemed too good a chance to miss. To approach the intuitive and make it strategy. To gain the tools to research and question, to interrogate and conclude was an amazing experience. I was delighted to achieve a merit as my final mark but even more delighted that the contents of my dissertation on the multiple use - or not - of buildings for arts spaces continues to inform my thinking.
Let your ideas lead you - work them - make them strategy and make them real! It’s fun!
A failed attempt at a management buy out funded by the Cabinet Office during the Big Society years (anyone that tells you only about the successes may not be seeing the world as it is... Just saying) led me to strike out as a freelance consultant. Working with multiple clients on programming, project management and... Bid writing! Back to telling the story.
Face down the challenge - you are not alone - there’s me!
Another kind invitation from a local authority to run a venue led me to Gravesham where I have enjoyed 8 happy years developing the cultural programme, establishing the arts and culture department and the cultural festival programme. Working with local authority partners with vision is thoroughly rewarding, an authority that understands how arts, culture and the creative industries can enhance and invigorate the region is energising and life affirming - and now I want to work with you!
Arts, Culture, Creative Industries - whatever label we want to attach - we attach it to a gift of world beating proportions.
I would like to help you wrap your gift!
