My previous dance and arts management roles have spanned the gamut of producing expertise, including project dreaming, commissioning new work, partnership-forming, writing funding applications, project management, community engagement, marketing, event support, and evaluation. Most recently my focus for producing work has been on strategic and business development, and audience development. I have particular expertise around community or non-professional settings, work for non-traditional and public spaces, working with academics, integrated and inclusive work, artist professional development, and strategic business development.
Freelance producing work includes Strategic Development Consultant for Anjali Dance; Specialist Education Consultant for Scarabeus Aerial Dance Theatre; Project Co-ordinator for South East Dance on the regional dance networks development project; Associate Producer for Dance Reading festival.
As Arts Development Officer at Reading University, I developed a brand-new portfolio of projects and connections asking ‘how can the University integrate creative practice in its activities’. This included instigating and managing several commissions of new work, in which artists collaborated with academics, students, public and school children, as well as developing and implementing a new public art commissioning programme for the University and managing the first commissioned projects within this programme.
Within my role as Arts Development Officer at Cornerstone arts centre/South Oxfordshire District Council, I initiated and managed a number of participatory cultural projects across South Oxfordshire and within the venue, collaborating with a range of partner organisations. I also programmed and developed the participation and visual arts programme at the venue, and had responsibility for supporting public art commissioning in the district with funding through S106 or CIL.
Other highlights include producing Cecilia Macfarlane’s intergenerational, international and interdisciplinary project ‘Bridges’ in Oxford and Japan; producing The Impending Storm, a Cultural Olympiad Unlimited International project, led by David Toole and Remix Dance Company in South Africa, presented at International Dance Festival Birmingham and Unlimited Festival at the South Bank Centre; producing an outdoor performance of French aerial dance company Retouramont at Dancin’ Oxford festival.
I began my dance management career with a focus on education and youth dance, working with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s education department, Dance Umbrella, Youth Dance England and South East Dance. I have developed expertise in the inclusive dance sector, as Project Manager at DanceXchange in Birmingham and working with Anjali dance company. Through my role with Age UK Oxfordshire curating the Age of Creativity website I have developed my knowledge of arts and health based initiatives across the UK.
In Oxford, I was programme manager for Oxford Dance Forum, shaping and managing an Arts Council-funded programme of professional development for artists in Oxfordshire. My role as Dance Officer for Oxford City Council (maternity cover post) also involved artist development support for emerging and established artists.
Since 2019 I have been a Board Member of the Dramaturgs’ Network, with responsibilities in membership communications, events, finance, and strategic development. Previously I have been a member of the Board of Directors of Reside Dance CIC (2019-2021), an independent member of the ‘Move South East’ dance strategy group (2017-2022), a steering group member for Junction Dance (now Dance Reading) (2014-2016) and a board member for Hampshire Dance / Dance Up (2009 – 2013).