Risks, Rights and Reputations

Rights, Risks and Reputations

Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors are 25 pairs of individuals from across the country, selected through an open recruitment process in January 2018. They are a group keen to develop new tools to confidently manage difficult subjects and sensitive stories, to support their local cultural community to safely take creative and reputational risks, understand their responsibilities and rights, and the rights of their artists and communities, and to manage complex situations as they arise. See the pairings, meet our Ambassadors and read their biographies below.

Jamie Beddard

Jenny Rutter

Jenny Rutter is a creative producer with varied experience supporting & developing creative practice in the Northwest. Her work has included managing arts organisations, producing arts projects, festivals and design events, consulting on the development of creative led regeneration programmes, lecturing on creative entrepreneurship across the country and project managing a wide range of European and Government funded creative & digital media programmes. Jenny is a Clore cultural fellow, SFEDI accredited business advisor and Relational Dynamics accredited coach, specialising in work with creative people and start ups. Her recent experience has been working within 2 Creative People & Places Programmes within Lancashire – LeftCoast in Blackpool & Super Slow Way in East Lancashire, to develop innovative programmes of work aimed at increasing engagement in the arts.

Tina Redford

Tina Redford is the Director at LeftCoast, Blackpool. Previously, she has been the Head of the Library Service in Warrington and Director of Culture Warrington. Tina graduated from Lancaster University in 1988 with BA Hons in Marketing and Theatre Studies before embarking on an artistic career for the next 15 years that involved acting, stage management, gigging, lecturing and running a professional recording studio. Tina was also the Regional Director of MusicLeader North West for 7 years, a national programme dedicated to the professional development of musicians, especially those working with children and young people.

Lindsey Glen

Lindsey Glen is Head of Policy and Strategy at the Royal Opera House. This varied role includes producing and monitoring delivery of the overall business plan, helping the Executive team develop specific areas of strategy and liaising with stakeholders. She moved into this position from the Development department where she had worked since 2005, growing support from trusts and foundations and developing the organisation’s approach to fundraising communications and policy. Previously Lindsey held roles at Southbank Centre, Wigmore Hall and at Music at Oxford, as well as undertaking occasional consultancy and freelance projects. She is also a trustee of Spitalfields Music.

Sarah Crabtree

Sarah Crabtree is Creative Producer for The Royal Opera. Sarah leads the programming and producing team for the Royal Opera’s Linbury Theatre and the Royal Opera’s work in partnership with other venues in the UK and worldwide including The Barbican Theatre, Lincoln Center, Shakespeare’s Globe, Lyric Hammersmith, Roundhouse and Curve Leicester. A significant proportion of Sarah’s work at is focused on contemporary and new work and she has a passion for supporting emerging talent and reaching new audiences. Previously Sarah spent nine years at Opera Holland Park where she worked as Associate Producer for James Clutton.

Nick Adams

I lead the Barbican’s corporate communications, public policy and a number of areas of its strategy work, including a particular focus on public policy, risk, controversial programming, reputation management, policy development and strategic and stakeholder relationships. I have over 10 years of experience of corporate communications, external relations and policy and prior to the Barbican worked for five years at Arts Council England, including working as speechwriter for the Arts Council Chair and Chief Executive. I am an alumni of the Clore Leadership Programme Short Course and a Fellow of the RSA.

Laura Whitticase

I oversee the planning, delivery and reporting of projects, policies and strategies contained within the Barbican’s Strategic Plan – designed to support the organisation to achieve its goals and deliver its mission and vision, whilst ensuring that our strategic direction aligns with the priorities of the City of London and other key stakeholders including ACE and DCMS. Outside of the Barbican I am a founding Trustee and Chair of Sour Lemons, a charity which addresses the lack of social mobility and diversity in leadership roles across the creative industries, through delivering creative leadership training for young leaders from diverse backgrounds.

Siobhan McGrath

Siobhan McGrath has worked in a variety of arts administration roles at organisations including LIFT, Frantic Assembly and Free Word. Deciding to gain experience outside of the arts, Siobhan worked with young people in Tanzania, became a Support Worker for people affected by homelessness and mental health and delivered resettlement programmes in prisons. Returning to the arts as Education Producer at Artsadmin, Siobhan creates and delivers meaningful arts projects and programmes with young people and communities.

Dr Cecilia Wee

Cecilia Wee is a curator/educator working with experimental sound, performance, visual art and design practices, investigating the role of art and design in creating a more equitable society, exploring public sphere, economic systems, relationships with technology, environmental change, security. From 2011-18, she was Tutor at the School of Communication, Royal College of Art, London. Cecilia wrote her DPhil on documentation of live art at University of Sussex. She has curated projects for organisations including Akademie der Künste Berlin, Tate, Whitechapel Gallery, Paju Typography Institute Korea. Cecilia is Chair of Live Art Development Agency, part of the core group behind Radical Renewable Art and Activism Fund.

Emily Coleman

I am an independent producer and theatre maker with over 12 years’ experience of making and touring work across the UK and internationally. I am a longstanding advocate for the importance of the independent arts sector and regularly offer support to artists and companies. Since relocating to the East Midlands in 2017 I have worked as producer for the region’s flagship artist development scheme In Good Company, creating and managing a programme of professional development opportunities and events for theatre practitioners to make the best work they can. I’ve worked with mid-scale theatre company Spymonkey since 2014 alongside my own projects Pebble Gorge and Hijack which make participatory and/or digital work for children and families.

John Kirby

I am Attenborough Art Centre’s (AAC) Programming officer for events and learning. AAC is an active member of the IGC consortium. With 6 years of experience, our programme offers performance, courses and workshops, contemporary art exhibitions, activities for children and families, and more. We are proud to champion emerging talent and disability-led artists, supporting those starting their careers. Artists we have worked with previously include Dan Daw, Caroline Bowditch, Hatch, Tetrad Collective, Priya Mistry, Goat and Monkey and Oily Cart.

Livvy Murdoch

As Education Coordinator at Camden Arts Centre (CAC), Livvy works collaboratively with artists to deliver elements of the education programme including the family, schools and courses programme. She has a specific interest in the role of art galleries in promoting social justice issues, and worked on initiating Tate’s Diversity Champions Scheme, as well as co-facilitating CAC’s internal access group. Her research interests focus on queering art practices, disability and access. She has spoken on these issues as part of the 2017 AntiUniversity Now panel programme. She is currently learning level 3 British Sign Language.

Amanprit Sandhu

Amanprit is the Public Programme and Residencies Curator at CAC. In a freelance capacity her focus is on commissioning, performance based practices and collaborative approaches to working. She is the co-founder of the curatorial collective DAM Projects, who support underexposed and unorthodox artists, art scenes, discourses and debates. She currently sits on the board of Arts Catalyst. Previous roles include Project Curator at Art on the Underground, Performance Programme Curator for Art 13/14 London art fairs, Project Manager for Folkestone Triennial and Frieze Projects, Assistant Curator at the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art and Learning Coordinator at the Design Museum.

Esther Gill

I am a lover of stories, history, pictures and words. I believe that creative experiences and collaborative working enable us all to challenge the status quo and change the world for communal good. I have worked in the cultural sector for over 20 years, in roles building engagement, breaking down barriers and enabling people to explore arts and heritage, and what is meaningful to them. Today, I am a partner and consultant with Bright Culture, supporting organisations to develop creative approaches to engagement. I would like to be a RRR Ambassador to share experiences, try out new approaches and influence the cultural landscape.

Catherine Bloodworth

Since 2001, I have worked in the cultural sector, and now as a partner and consultant in Bright Culture, specialising in supporting and delivering engagement activity to enable meaningful and inclusive participation. I am excited by creative exploration of stories, connected to people and places, in particular those that are more socially sensitive or hidden, and how these can aspire transformation, change and growth be that individually, socially or artistically. I am passionate about empowering people through training and mentoring, being part of the programme would be a meaningful way of connecting people, encouraging debate and increasing confidence in engaging with all stories.

Helen Joanne Watson

Helen Watson is currently undertaking a Clore Leadership Fellowship. She is Director of Programming at Lakeland Arts, Cumbria, a leading arts organisation in the North West which manages a portfolio of arts and heritage venues including Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Blackwell House and the soon to be opened Windermere Jetty, a world class museum. She previously worked for the National Galleries of Scotland as Outreach Officer and Deputy Head of Education. Helen is a Trustee for Signal Film & Media, Barrow-in-Furness and the Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University. She is Co-chair of Women in Heritage Leaders Network North West.

Karen O’Neill

As the Deputy Director of Kirklees Theatre Trust Karen manages the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and CPP project Creative Scene in North Kirklees. With a strong background in creative organisations Karen previously held venue management positions at the Palace Theatre in Manchester and at other Live Nation theatres across the UK. Karen has been a mentor for Engage with the Visual Arts and is an International Fellow at the DeVos Institute of Arts Management in Washington DC. Karen is on the Board of University of Huddersfield Student Union and is a director of student housing company HudLets.

Laura Killeen

An adaptable, supportive General Manager, who leads the day-to-day operations of Stan’s Cafe Theatre. I have 10 years experience of working in arts administration roles at Birmingham REP, The National Theatre and Arts Council England. I have an MA in Arts and Project Management. My extensive experience in logistical roles across a variety of arts organisations enables me to be highly organised and have an in-depth view of differing needs cross the theatre sector. I am interested in bringing the sector together to enable artists and organisations to feel empowered to take risks in the current climate.

Lucy Nicholls

Creative Learning Producer and Arts Council England funded Change Maker at Stan’s Cafe Theatre Company. Lucy has 10 years’ freelance experience working both nationally and internationally, with small grass-roots organisations and large NPOs, creating, delivering and managing projects, producing, directing and performing. First class BA (hons) and MA in performing arts and PGCE in post-compulsory education. Clore Leadership Short Course alumni. Following extensive experience of working in community settings, Lucy was selected as one of twenty arts and culture professionals in England to become a ‘Change Maker’. She is currently nationally touring the production she has co-written, The Death Show.

Kate Hall

Kate Hall is an experienced Creative Producer who is leading Platform8, a Festival of Theatre for Peterborough, in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre’s Collaborative Touring Network, though her company Jumped Up Theatre, which has a track record in producing new and site-pacific work, often creating the projects with communities and working across art-forms. Kate has also worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, English Touring Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange and within two Creative People and Places programme projects.

Josie Stone

Josie Stone is Programme Manager for Peterborough Presents, the city’s Creative People and Places programme, which is now in its second phase of Arts Council England funding. Josie is from Peterborough but has worked across the UK in roles as diverse as managing literature and reading programmes, fundraising for a national charity, including stakeholder engagement, heritage engagement activity in Northampton Shoe Museum and teaching English in Secondary Schools.

Jane Pitt

I’m a practising artist and producer based in Medway. After a Fine Art degree I joined the Red Herring Group to set up Brighton’s first artist-led studios. Running away with Circus Archaos introduced me to a new world of european performers and producers making quality, innovative, accessible work in outdoor and public spaces. This experience led to co-ordinating outdoor arts festivals and still strongly influences my approach to participatory work as an artist & producer including projects in Kent and beyond on land, buses and boats. At Ideas Test, I curate exhibitions and events in our shop space.

Daisy Orton

I am a theatre-maker, performer, and producer. After graduating from university in 2006, I set up Accidental Collective, creating a wide range of performances and participatory events for theatres and public spaces. Amongst this work I produced and facilitated Pot Luck, a performance-sharing platform and artist development programme. As well as running the company, I collaborate with other artists, and have taught on the Drama and Theatre Studies degree at the University of Kent for the past 5 years. I am the Assistant Producer at Ideas Test (a Creative People and Places organisations).

Chris Keady

I am the Learning & Participation Manager at the National Railway Museum in York and am working on developing a new learning approach for a major site project taking place over the next few years. I am also a Board Member for the Happy Museum Project – a wonderful organisation that encourages cultural organisations to consider wellbeing and environmental sustainability in their practice. I live in Sheffield currently, working here in York. Following a Fine Art degree, I undertook an MA in Museum Studies and have been working in museums and galleries since. I am particularly interested in wellbeing, arts for health and early years programming – having previously worked as an arts coordinator across 6 hospitals.

Ruth Murray

I have 12 years’ experience in creating learning programmes and interactive exhibitions with a strong background in visitor research. Starting as a science centre explainer, I have led both development and delivery teams on varied projects, completing MA in Museum Studies in 2013. My current role in Manchester involves working with audiences and the Learning and Interpretation teams to embed a more reflective working culture as we aim to create engaging, participatory galleries that transform our historic site. It allows me to combine face to face contact with varied audiences and innovative exhibition making – which I love!

Zoe Dennington

Zoe manages the Crafts Council’s Learning and Participation team, creating opportunities for everyone to discover a talent for making— from formal learning programmes aiming to reinvigorate craft in schools to participation festivals exploring craft techniques from ceramics to 3D printing. She has a background in museum and gallery education and experience developing and delivering programmes at Bath’s American Museum, Fashion Museum, and Roman Baths. She is passionate about diversifying the arts sector and creating meaningful roles for young people within art and heritage organisations.

Sarah Turner

Sarah has been Exhibition Projects Curator at the Crafts Council since 2008. During this time she has delivered numerous contemporary craft exhibitions that champion the UK’s foremost makers. Exhibitions have sought to challenge perceptions of what craft is and can be by exploring the crossover between craft and digital technologies, fashion, sound, film, storytelling and play. Previously she has held project management and curatorial roles at Urbis, Centre for Urban Culture in Manchester and International Design Festival, Berlin.

Cheryl Bowen

Freelance Educator and currently Museum Detox Strategic Executive PGCE Student at University College London, Post Compulsory Practice and Society Programme and Chair of Griot Foundation Trust London. Previously Young People’s Programme Manager at the National Portrait Gallery, Assistant Programme Manager:Young People at V&A, Community and Learning Manager at Hackney Museum and Archive Service and Arts Development Officer for Lewisham Arts Service, Youth Service Manager working in South London.

Sandra Shakespeare

Outreach Officer, The National Archives. Previously Arts Development Co-ordinator, East Potential, Stratford; Learning Communities Development Worker, London Borough of Tower Hamlets; Marketing Assistant, Black Women in the Arts; Specialist Education tutor BskyB Ltd and Project Assistant, Ocean Music Venue.

Sarah Sansom

Sarah Sansom is 43, and has a broad range of experience in producing, directing, coaching and training. In 2017 she was the senior producer for Punchdrunk’s immersive 5 hour experience across London – Kaberiroi, and worked as a change consultant for Avant Garde Dance Company (AG), securing their place in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio for dance. She is now AG’s Executive Producer, and Artistic Director of Time Won’t Wait, a creative producing and talent incubation hub for under misrepresented artists who make dynamic, daring and bold socially engaged work.

Urban Wolf

Urban Wolf is 28, he trained in Acting at Central School of Speech and Drama. His first play Custody (a political drama about the murder of black men in police custody) was presented at Oval House in London last year to wide critical acclaim. He is currently making a documentary about Black Gay masculinity for the BFI and is working as an Artist in Residence at Time Won’t Wait developing his practice as a producer, performance artist and creator of new work. He is mentored by Lemn Sissay.

Debbie Chan

I’m a creative producer with unique experiences of working in the arts/public realm sector across the North West, with a focus on many people being part of the conversations, processes and collaborative practice. I have worked on a range of projects from working with young people to produce an award winning film, commissioning site specific artworks for heritage locations to empowering young people across three locations to influence the decisions involving commissioning art with libraries. Currently, I’m Producer for Heart of Glass, working with artists and people who have lived experiences of disability to create a major artwork in St Helens.

Hwa Young Jung

Hwa Young Jung is an award winning multidisciplinary artist/maker/curator working in the arts, cultural and sciences, facilitating collaborative workshops and projects. She has been involved in producing projects with grassroots led community spaces, makers and artists in the North and internationally for over ten years – running hackathons, exhibitions, workshops. She is ¼ of Re-Dock, an artist collective working with people and technology based in Liverpool & Manchester. She is ⅓ of Domestic Science, a collective of artists using interactive non-fiction to explore narratives around science and data that surrounds us everyday.

Kate McStraw

Kate McStraw is an independent creative producer, passionate about breaking down perceived and real barriers to accessing arts and cultural activities and bolstering opportunities for early career women in the arts. She has worked with companies including Inside Out Dorset festival, Gobbledegook Theatre, Green Ginger; all with a dedication to increase accessibility to their outputs. Kate began offering ‘pass it on’ hour-long in-kind mentoring opportunities to early career women in the arts, in Jan 2017, which has since grown into founding Dorset’s Early Career Producers network – a flexible but formal training programme to address the need for a cultural shift and talent-retention in Dorset.

Molly Scarborough

Molly Scarborough is a Dorset based Events Producer, Facilitator, Marketing Officer, Administrator and Performing Artist. She works within the arts and consistently with young people in her local area – creating and producing projects both with them and for them to interact with. Through both Molly’s roles as a performing artist and a producer she is driven by equality and voicing the unheard voices, ‘the others’, who are often overlooked. As a performer she creates intimate autobiographical work; currently addresses and interrogates the taboo subject which is her body, inviting audience and community members to discuss the fat female form.

Rita Marcalo

Instant Dissidence is a Bradford-based company directed by me, Rita Marcalo. It is my way of bringing different artists together, in different combinations, to realise different ideas: through Instant Dissidence I invent ways of offering other people art experiences. My practice began in dance/choreography but eventually I was more interested in communicating concepts than sticking to a particular art form. I began collaborating with others to create work in different media, and today I bring in people from different areas to solve creative problems. Mine is also a socially-engaged practice where I foreground the role that art can play as a social engine. My work has been shown all over the UK and internationally: Finland, USA, Portugal, Croatia, Russia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey, Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain.

Kristina Lomas

Kristina Lomas has worked as project manager for various Instant Dissidence projects since 2015, having project managed projects in the UK, France, Finland and Copenhagen. In 2017 she joined Rita Marcalo on an artistic residency at Metal Southend-on-Sea, where the company researched a new work on climate change. She also directs Bradford-based sustainability consultancy company Eco Affinity. The company works mainly with arts organisations, and Kristina is currently working with the Thackray Medical Museum, Museum Development Yorkshire, and Museum Development East Midlands.

Rosie Kay

Rosie Kay trained at LCDS before setting up her own company in 2004. Works include Asylum (2004) based on research with refugees, and the trilogy of political works, 5 Soldiers (2010), There is Hope (2012) and MK Ultra (2017). 5 Soldiers was created with intense research with the British Army and was nominated for Best Choreography at the National Dance Awards. Kay also creates outdoor work (Modern Warrior), feature film (Sunshine on Leith) and was the first choreographer appointed as the Leverhulme Artist in Residence at the University of Oxford. RKDC was named Best Independent Dance Company 2015 and is nominated again for 2017.

Annie Mahtani

Annie Mahtani is an electroacoustic composer, sound artist and performer working and living in Birmingham, UK. Mahtani’s work encompasses electronic music composition from acousmatic music to free improvisation. With a strong interest in field recording, Mahtani’s work often explores the inherent sonic nature and identity of environmental sound, amplifying sonic characteristics that are not normally audible to the naked ear. Mahtani’s music explores abstract and recognisable sound worlds and all the spaces in between. Mahtani began collaborating with Kay in 2004 and has composed and arranged works such as Asylum (2004), Supernova (2008), 5 Soldiers (2010), There is Hope (2012) and MK Ultra (2017).

Tanja Erhart

I am born in Tyrol/Austria, studied cultural and social anthropology in Vienna and finished my MA specialized in dance, performance and disability studies in 2012. In 2014 I joined Candoco Dance Company as a professional dancer for three years. We toured, performed and taught inclusive dance practice in countries like UK, Switzerland, South Korea, Mexico, Africa and many more. Currently I am a disabled, independent artist and scientist based in London following my path of physical, emotional, mental well-being and the interconnectedness of being an artist and a citizen of the world.

Sarah Blanc

I am an Irish performer, choreographer and TV presenter living in London. A self confessed renaissance woman who enjoys all aspects of the dance and theatre worlds. When I am not shaking or movement making, you will find me presenting on Art Streaming TV or Inside Dance TV, of which I co-founded with Lucy Field and produce. I have extensive experience within an inclusive setting. I am a Candoco Artist and along with working on projects nationally and internationally, I co-lead and choreograph on their youth company Cando2. As a performer I work regularly with Katie Green, The People Pile and Animated State Dance Theatre Company. Past projects include Pestiferous, Caroline Bowditch and Jessie Brett.

Kim Wide

Kim is the founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Take A Part CIC, a socially engaged arts organisation based in Plymouth which supports communities not normally engaging in arts and heritage to instigate creative change. Take A Part CIC works both nationally and internationally to engage people in sustainable, engaging, educational and risk-taking projects about people’s identities and localities, often dealing with issues of identity and belonging. Kim works to support organisations, schools, museums, universities and local authorities to increase audience, relevance and reach via partnership programmes and projects. Take A Part CIC has just been awarded Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation status.

Fiona Evans

Fiona is an experienced radio, podcasting and video producer who currently works as the Vital Sparks Producer for Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Culture, offering community groups seed funding and support to take on cultural initiatives. Race, culture and identity work are special interests to Fiona, who has worked closely with the Plymouth and Devon Race Equality Council for years. Recently Fiona travelled to the West Bank to film a women’s marathon. Fiona also works as part of the arts collective theconscioussisters and is currently working on a radical socially engaged project for 2020 working with Standing Rock activist and Native American artist Cannupa Hanska Luger. At heart, Fiona is a community worker with some extremely useful skills and is interested in working on projects of integrity.

Shasti Lowton

Shasti Lowton is an innovative curator and art consultant who uses exhibitions as a tool to promote social change. Her specialisms in African and conflict art have led her to work with award winning contemporary artists such as Jonathan Torgovnik and Alfredo Jaar. Shortlisted as a finalist for Stylist Magazine’s and Nivea’s ‘Bring it on 30’ campaign, an award to recognise women under 30 who were making waves in their chosen industry, Shasti’s previous projects have included collaborations with the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, The National Trust, Southbank Centre and Culture24. Currently a Curator at the Science Museum, Shasti curated and delivered the exhibition Illuminating India: Photography 1857 -2017.

Dianna Djokey

Dianna is a curator and Audience Engagement Consultant who works with connecting the public with museums and their collections. She has worked with museums such as Portsmouth City Museum, National Museum of the Royal Navy, the John Hansard gallery, Art Space Gallery and the Aspex gallery. For the past 4 years Dianna has publicly spoken at conferences and held workshops on how museums and communal spaces can cater to unheard voices and approach taboo and sensitive subjects matters, and recently became the project manager for The Movement Project – telling the stories of women of colour and trans women of colour activists in the Portsmouth area.

Uzma Kazi

I am a Theatre Designer since 2008, building up a professional production design portfolio including set, costume, props and puppetry and workshop related activity. Some recent production credits include ‘Orgreave: An English Civil War’ (2014), ‘Theatre for One’ (2016), ‘North Country’ (2016). I have developed independent work, including performance art project ‘Grooming Ground’ and ‘The Square Chapatti Club’, fusing dialogue and community relations, through the arts. I work collaboratively with artist collectives exploring art as a tool to activate through the ‘Power Up’ project. I am also a trained Youth & Community worker, currently developing Interfaith based youth work.

Tim Wheeler

I’m a freelance disabled theatre maker, arts consultant and accredited coach. I’m co-founder and was Artistic Director of Mind the Gap for 26 years. I set up fabric, a local network for artists working in the Bradford. I trained with Augusto Boal and have delivered Theatre of the Oppressed training internationally. I’m working with University of Worcester in the development and delivery of a new Masters in Touring Theatre. I sit on Creative Case North steering group which aims to support NPOs to develop their creative responses to diversity. With Alan Dix I’ve run What Next? West Yorkshire chapter for the past 4 years.

Danny O’Hara

I am a freelance Theatre Practitioner working in community theatre, I’ve worked in the USA, Denmark and England. Trained in Communication, Speech and Drama, I also gained a Masters in Gender and the Media and a BA in Peace Studies. I’ve 15 years of experience working with vulnerable adults with addiction, health and social difficulties. Trained in Theatre of the Oppressed, Improv and in mindfulness, my work focuses on community, I’m currently leading on a project in a housing block, with local residents facing a variety of challenges. I deliver an assortment of activities to people living with dementia.

Duncan Joseph

I am a freelance Theatre Practitioner and Educator working in community theatre since completing an MA Theatre Directing in October 2015 with 20 years experience in Secondary Education (drama teacher, Head of Faculty and Advanced Skills Teacher). My community theatre and freelance work draws on my cross-curricular academic background; I have a first degree in Philosophy, Politics & Economics and PGCert Applied Theatre. The focus of much of my work has always been young people and I continue to work in a variety of contexts, and currently teach three days a week at a Post 16 Creative College.

Elizabeth Mischler

Elizabeth Mischler is Producer of Artist Development at South East Dance, providing a dedicated focus to developing dance artists and the dance sector. Previously, she was a professional dancer, rehearsal director and teacher, working with companies throughout the UK and Europe, including Ballet Theatre Munich, Mark Bruce Company, Clod Ensemble, National Dance Company Wales, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and others. She went on to work as Producer for Mark Bruce Company and as Assistant to the Director/Company Manager for DV8 Physical Theatre. Elizabeth is a Trustee on the boards of DV8 Physical Theatre and Mark Bruce Company, where she previously acted as chair. Elizabeth is a 2017/18 Clore Fellow.

Sophie Leighton

As Curator at the Freud Museum, Sophie Leighton is principally in charge of advocating for and looking after the collections, library and archive, and working with artists. Currently she is on sabbatical doing a Clore Fellowship, particularly interested in socially engaged practice. In previous roles at the V&A Sophie worked with the metalwork and photography collections, as well as on other projects such as Friday Late events, and writing the V&A’s annual review. She previously worked in publishing at the National Trust and as an English teacher in Japan and France. She is a mentor for the museums sector.

Florence Reynolds

Florence Reynolds started her career in the heritage sector and worked in editorial and project management for a cross-national academic publishing project. Since 2016 she has worked at Writers’ Centre Norwich, soon to be the National Centre for Writing, working on festivals, events, and international programmes. In her spare time Florence curates collaborative and interdisciplinary projects between emerging LGBT and women writers, and volunteers with other festivals and cultural organizations. She has an interest in creative multilingualism, and her poetry is published in Magma, Lighthouse and others.

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