Experience

Arts Emergency

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• National Project Lead

  • Apr 2022 - Present

  I am responsible for recruiting and supporting mentor pairs across the country who are part of our 18+ mentoring programme. I scope out new places for Arts Emergency to work and help to seed projects in new locations, including talking to local volunteers, organisations and schools.

• Mentoring Manager (North)

  • Jun 2021 - Apr 2022

  I supported the delivery of Arts Emergency's mentorship programming in the North West, overseeing projects in Greater Manchester and in Merseyside.

• Programmes Team Coordinator

  • Oct 2019 - Jun 2021

  Arts Emergency is a charity and national network that supports marginalised young people through mentorships and guidance into HE and careers in the arts and cultural industries. As Programmes Team Coordinator, I support the Arts Emergency project staff in London, Thanet (near Kent) and Greater Manchester. My duties include:- working with Arts Emergency managers to build networks in new target areas (e.g. Liverpool, Bristol)- working with Arts Emergency managers across strategic planning- managing correspondence and support needs across the Programmes Team- updating Programmes Team resources (e.g. Handbook)- supporting the development of the new Speaker Series initiative- speaking on behalf of Arts Emergency at networking events- coordinating Programmes Team training and away daysProgrammes used include:- Salesforce- Mailchimp- Google Suite- YAMM Show less

• Manchester Project Coordinator

  • Apr 2018 - Sep 2019

  I coordinated the Arts Emergency project in Greater Manchester. Arts Emergency is a charity and national network that supports marginalised young people through mentorships and guidance into HE and careers in the arts and cultural industries. My duties included:- recruiting young people to be part of the programme- growing the network of mentors and arts & cultural industry professionals- building and maintaining partnerships with schools and colleges across Greater Manchester- delivering mentor training- matching mentors with mentees and managing correspondence and support needs- establishing connections with local arts and cultural organisations- drafting and distributing a monthly opportunities newsletterProgrammes used included:- Salesforce- Mailchimp- Google Suite- YAMM Show less



Self Employed

• Writer / Poet

  • Mar 2014 - Present

  I am an award-winning Canadian spoken word artist and educator currently based in the North of England. A multiple slam champion, I have been performing my work extensively at spoken word nights and festivals throughout the UK and internationally since 2013, including performances for Amnesty International, Apples & Snakes, Hammer & Tongue and guest slots supporting Hollie McNish and Shane Koyczan. I programmes and host the monthly spoken word night “Cellar Stories” at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. I have written and toured three spoken word shows. “The Geography Of Me” played at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Ilkley Literature Festival Fringe, and at the Winnipeg Fringe in Canada, and won Best Spoken Word Show at the 2021 Buxton Fringe. “How To Starve An Artist” was Runner Up Best UK Spoken Word Show at the Saboteur Awards. “The Empathy Experiment” was developed with funding from Arts Council England and is currently on tour in the UK and internationally. The show also won Best Spoken Word Show at the Greater Manchester Fringe Awards, and received critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe:‘One of the most interesting, informative, amusing and, occasionally, poignant pieces of theatre I’ve seen in a long time – Highly Recommended Show’ – FringeReview ★★★★ ½ ‘Relevant and enthralling’ – The Reviews Hub★★★★ ‘She models true empathy’ – Three Weeks★★★★ ‘One of the many hidden gems that the Fringe is all about’ – Everything Theatre★★★★ ‘Her poetic storytelling is the highlight of the show’ – The Feminist FringeMy debut poetry collection "After The Storm" was published by Flapjack Press in 2020. I was longlisted for the inaugural Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship and have been published in The London Reader. My chapter on audience participation in spoken word is part of a ground-breaking collection of essays called "Spoken Word in the UK" published by Routledge (ed. Lucy English and Jack McGowan) in 2021. Show less

• Freelance Creative Engagement Facilitator

  • Sep 2000 - Present

  I devise and develop creative writing, performance poetry, storytelling and acting workshops for children, young people and adults. I lead participatory workshops in school and community settings and I lead creative writing CPD workshops for teachers and educators. My freelance employers have included:- Bradford Literature Festival- The Hepworth Wakefield- Hoot Creative Arts- Huddersfield Literature Festival- Kirklees Council- Lawrence Batley Theatre- Manitoba Theatre for Young People (Canada)- Prairie Theatre Exchange School (Canada)- Rotherham Youth Services- The University of Winnipeg’s Explore Programme- Wakefield Theatre Royal’s Creative Learning Network- We Are IVE- Yorkshire Sculpture Park- The Youth Peacebuilding Project (Canada) Show less



fairandfunky CIC

• United Kingdom
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • Jan 2018 - Present

  I contribute to fairandfunky’s strategic planning to support the growth of their school and community programming. I deliver participatory workshops with the Board Members to identify key priority areas for long term planning. This Community Interest Company empowers people to take little steps to change the world by advocating and educating about local and global sustainability, Fairtrade, recycling and the environment. I contribute to fairandfunky’s strategic planning to support the growth of their school and community programming. I deliver participatory workshops with the Board Members to identify key priority areas for long term planning. This Community Interest Company empowers people to take little steps to change the world by advocating and educating about local and global sustainability, Fairtrade, recycling and the environment.



Dark Horse Theatre

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Acting Tutor

  • Jan 2018 - Mar 2018

  I led training sessions with members of the Dark Horse Company – an ensemble of learning disabled actors. A strategic aim for Dark Horse is to expand its outreach offer with sessions being led by company members. As such my training centred on equipping company members with skills in leadership, facilitation and workshop delivery. I led training sessions with members of the Dark Horse Company – an ensemble of learning disabled actors. A strategic aim for Dark Horse is to expand its outreach offer with sessions being led by company members. As such my training centred on equipping company members with skills in leadership, facilitation and workshop delivery.



Lawrence Batley Theatre

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of Community Engagement

  • Jul 2012 - Sep 2017

  I managed a staff team that delivered drama programming at the Lawrence Batley Theatre and in outreach settings. I raised funds for the delivery of activities, e.g. securing £183k from the Big Lottery Fund for a three year outreach project that raised aspirations for young people living in areas of deprivation. I developed Creative Learning Partnerships with local primary and secondary schools and I maintained relationships with community partners. I coordinated artistic events and I contributed to the theatre’s strategy for supporting new and emerging artists. Show less



The University of Huddersfield

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Visiting Lecturer

  • Oct 2016 - Nov 2016

  I worked with Second Year Drama Students to develop their skills in performance poetry and to build a devised performance using their original spoken word pieces. I worked with Second Year Drama Students to develop their skills in performance poetry and to build a devised performance using their original spoken word pieces.



Lawrence Batley Theatre

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Tour Coordinator

  • Jan 2012 - Apr 2012

  I coordinated a tour of Risky Things Theatre Company’s Forum Theatre production of Playing Safe to community venues across Kirklees. I did site visits, negotiated host agreements, managed correspondence with the artistic team and the cast of community actors, monitored audience data and reported on the project budget. I coordinated a tour of Risky Things Theatre Company’s Forum Theatre production of Playing Safe to community venues across Kirklees. I did site visits, negotiated host agreements, managed correspondence with the artistic team and the cast of community actors, monitored audience data and reported on the project budget.



CHOL INTERNATIONAL ARTS

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Producer

  • Sep 2011 - Dec 2011

  As part of the Chol Generation initiative, I assisted LBT’s Director on programming and producing the Hallowe’en Happening, a multi-artform event showcasing small- and middle-scale work throughout the LBT building. As part of the Chol Generation initiative, I assisted LBT’s Director on programming and producing the Hallowe’en Happening, a multi-artform event showcasing small- and middle-scale work throughout the LBT building.



Manitoba Theatre for Young People

• Canada
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Aboriginal Arts Training & Mentorship Programme Coordinator

  • Sep 2009 - Jun 2011

  I coordinated recruitment, registration and outreach initiatives for an arts training programme that engaged over 500 Aboriginal young people each year. I monitored the programme budget, and I prepared funding bids and reports. I coordinated community gatherings and celebration events. I mentored programme participants, and I coordinated mentorships with other professional theatre artists.

• Artistic Associate

  • Sep 2007 - Sep 2009

  I assisted the Artistic Director in programming the theatre’s mainstage season and outreach activities. I liaised with national and international arts presenters. I facilitated dramaturgical workshops and artist auditions, and negotiated and prepared artist contracts.



The University of Winnipeg

• Canada
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Sessional Instructor

  • Sep 2007 - Jun 2011

  I taught a vocational first-year course introducing students to practical understandings of acting, character analysis and scene study. I also taught a first-year survey course in which students analysed plays and learned about key components of theatre history, theories and practices. I taught a vocational first-year course introducing students to practical understandings of acting, character analysis and scene study. I also taught a first-year survey course in which students analysed plays and learned about key components of theatre history, theories and practices.



Clownwise Inc.

• Winnipeg, Canada Area

• Training Coordinator - Community Arts Training Project

  • Feb 2010 - Jul 2010

  I contributed to the development and delivery of a multi-disciplinary arts training project. I coordinated the delivery of theatre and storytelling training sessions, and reported on the outcomes of the training initiative. I contributed to the development and delivery of a multi-disciplinary arts training project. I coordinated the delivery of theatre and storytelling training sessions, and reported on the outcomes of the training initiative.



EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL LIMITED

• Biotechnology
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Theatre in Education Writer / Director / Performer

  • Feb 2004 - Feb 2006

  I acted in a touring production with the Edinburgh International Science Festival for school and community audiences in Scotland. I was commissioned to write and direct a play on environmental awareness and I developed a curriculum-linked Study Guide for the touring production. I acted in a touring production with the Edinburgh International Science Festival for school and community audiences in Scotland. I was commissioned to write and direct a play on environmental awareness and I developed a curriculum-linked Study Guide for the touring production.



Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Box Office Supervisor

  • Apr 2005 - Sep 2005

  I supervised a box office staff in telephone and counter sales of Festival tickets, and I supervised the operations of the Festival’s inaugural Ticket Tent Village. I supervised a box office staff in telephone and counter sales of Festival tickets, and I supervised the operations of the Festival’s inaugural Ticket Tent Village.