Producing and Consultation
Producer
I have a career spanning 25 years producing collaborative arts engagement programmes led by and for local residents. I have worked with large cultural organisations including the Royal Opera House, Siobhan Davies Dance, for local authorities including the London boroughs of Southwark and Westminster and Essex County Council and currently with Fun Palaces. Cultural democracy is evident in my approach to producing, which strives to build strong relationships with people over extended periods, enabling meaningful dialogues to take place before defining the outcomes. It means moving away from vertical power structures, amplifying marginalised voices and allowing unexpected ideas to emerge.
Choreographer
A fascination with everyday movements, walking, gestures and touch influence my choreographic work, which has been presented as large-scale performances, soundscapes, photography and film. I create innovative art projects and performances that bring people together and share the things that connect us. Examples of work include; Gesture Café (2015) a curated live event for adults and families about gestures, with activities (developed using scientific research), films, an audio work capturing non-verbal sounds and comments about conversational gestures, and an opportunity for people to contribute to a gallery of photographs capturing hands in gesture. I choreographed a processional work with students for the Thames Festival night carnival, collaborating with Shademakers, carnival art costume makers based in Germany, and Toca Rufar, a traditional Portuguese percussion organisation.
Consultant
As a consultant I have supported arts, cultural and heritage sector organisations in enhancing, developing and streamlining their approach. I work in collaboration with staff and stakeholders to encourage change and growth. For example, I wrote a report looking at ways to strengthen the infrastructure of dance for Southwark Council which was used to inform their cultural strategy; I contributed to updating the safeguarding policy for The Royal House producing an in-depth assessment which contained recommendations for a new robust model; I created a ten-year strategy for Royal Academy of Dance’s engagement programme rewriting the mission and strategic aims, and working closely with stakeholders to set objectives; and I worked with the Museum of the Home to address access and improve diversity and inclusion, considering the needs and experiences of all visitors to the Museum through a rigorous access audit, implementation plan and exhibition access guidelines.
Co - creations
Co-creations, when approached authentically, are an important aspect of cultural democracy. People’s everyday lives are often creative and arts, culture, and heritage provision should be shaped by local residents. For many decades I have approached co-creations with this knowledge, using for example a horizontal approach to learning and the civic participation model. This leads to co-creations where everyone is supported to shape the outcomes and direction of the work, bringing to the fore the culture and stories that have meaning for the people involved.
Facilitator
I'm an experienced facilitator and have led creative sessions for different groups of people, in movement and dance workshops, craft-making sessions and professional development and training for artists and higher education and cultural organisations. Training sessions have included access in community settings; and socially engaged and inclusive practice.
Currently, I am focusing on two areas; 1. sessions for cultural and heritage sector organisations on how cultural democracy can be embedded into their approach to programming and working with local people. 2. Craft-making and knotting sessions to create a collective work.
Event and project management
My experience in event management and programme development is extensive. I managed a multi-partnership dance programme that reached over 5000 students annually and included a school’s programme, holiday projects, performances and youth companies. I delivered festivals, for example, a full-day event at the Southbank Centre that included performances, workshops, talks and an exhibition involving 600 participants. I curated a Live Friday event at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, an evening of events, performances and talks responding to the museum’s collections. As the Big Dance Hub Lead for South London, I managed multi-partnership projects and commissions in parks, public spaces, city centres and more traditional settings. Projects included Routes to the River (2016) a large-scale multi-partnership promenade performance across seven outdoor sites involving 100 performers, aged between 11-65.