About
I have worked in the arts all my life. Most recently I was the Director of Ideas Test, one of Arts Council England's original flagship Creative People and Places (CPP) projects. In just over four years I led a successful change management process taking Ideas Test into achieving independent charity status, and novation from the original grant holder Swale CVS. We put in place strong governance, a new Board and a new consortium of organisations supporting delivery of the CPP programme. I left at the end of March 2022, having achieved NPO status with funding to 2025 and managing a succession plan meaning I handed over to Tracy Brunt, formerly the Deputy Director.
I am a very successful strategist, partnerships person and fundraiser. I am passionate about art relevant to communities, places and environments. I care deeply about genuine co creation and enabling the sharing of decision making and collective responsibility. This supports sustainability.
I am now working as a freelance consultant, using my considerable experience as a critical friend, mentor, adviser and fundraiser for various organisations. Clients include the National Gallery London, writing a national research report for the 200th anniversary celebrations with Elizabeth Lynch. I am currently a critical friend for Creative Basildon, part of the CPP family. I am working with Ideas Test on their fundraising. I worked with Seed CPP to help facilitate an Away Day for the consortium and staff. "Extremely helpful, with targeted questions to aid the conversations, insight and knowledge to offer, and inclusive" Session feedback August 2022.
Past roles include Strategic Manager for Artswork children and young people's charity, as part of the Bridge organisation role. I worked to support cultural education programmes in the South East brokering substantial non arts investment over the four years I was in post. I was also responsible for programming and organising two Artswork conferences that involved Lemn Sissay and Ken Robinson among other talented artists and thinkers.
I was Head of Education at Stour Valley Arts, a forest based arts organisation at King's Wood Challock for over 8 years. In that time I was Interim Director for a year, securing NPO status and financial support before joining Artswork. I studied for an MA in Arts and Cultural Management with SVA as the focus and case study, publishing my research, which was awarded a distinction as “Science Nature and Identity Understanding the Value of Experiential Learning in a Land Art Context” - in 2011. Following the demise of SVA, I am a founder Director of Outdoor Studios CIC, a collective of outdoor arts artists and practitioners, all experts working with the landscape and natural environment. The CIC is thriving.
Prior to this I was variously a community artist, school governor and Chair of governors and worked for a Business Education Partnership while raising my family. I am a trained wallpaintings conservator (ICCROM ROME and Canterbury Cathedral Wallpaintings workshop).
I'm a trained volunteer with the Bookmark reading charity and I sit on the advisory board for Sun Pier House Chatham.
I like to use my skills to make art more accessible and peoples' lives more joyful. I think I have a lot to offer now as a freelancer and mentor. Get in touch.
