Project Manager
Alongside teaching and freelance work, I have been a Projects Manager for various companies since 2000.
In 2001-4 (part time) I was a Community Arts Officer at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, project managing ArtReach , a charitable arts company tied to the local Eastwood and Springwell community in Rotherham, applying for and securing funding from the Arts Council, Big Lottery, Heritage Lottery fund, South Yorkshire KeyFund, South Yorks Community Foundation and local sponsorship. I set up, planned, delivered and monitored arts projects, festivals, events, training and workshops in the area and then branched out to the whole of Rotherham. This involved project plans, budgets, project reports, evaluation activity, ongoing monitoring, creative ideas and facilitating, managing and overseeing freelance staff teams.
Double take Theatre: co- Artistic Director (2002-5/ part time) involved creating and planning artistic projects, workshops and tours, overseeing freelance staff and securing funding, completing reports and gathering data.
On the Road Again Productions (2005-12/ part time): Company Manager- running the not for profit company, managing staff for projects, recruiting and overseeing volunteers, securing funding and designing, planning and delivering arts and heritage projects with hard to reach groups across Rotherham. Projects included: 'Nerves of steel' exploring Rotherham's world war 2 steel works heritage using a sculptor and doing music workshops with teenagers in youth centres. Permanent 'Steelo ' sculptures are now at Dinnington and Wath and there was a sculpture and sound exhibition at Clifton museum.
Whistle to work- a project with elderly people at st. Ann's day centre focussing upon participants first job using drama, storytelling and music to create a cd of recorded memories that was given to the group for family members and passed on to youth groups locally to do social history work around.
Step into my shoes- a bringing together of a predominantly white, English-speaking youth centre group and a predominantly Asian group doing world drumming, painting and graphic design, and drama to learn about one another and create an artwork with two sections that fit together that could be handed to the other group after a celebration putting it together and sharing food and performance.
Weave your banner- a heritage project with youth groups learning about textiles and using felt making skills to hang in their youth centres and at Clifton museum.
Navigators- a heritage/ arts project about the canals in Rotherham. Participants went on a canal boat and worked with a creative writer and songwriter too research and write poetry and songs based on the canals. The project was documented on film and the songs/ poetry put to images of the canals past and present.
Connections- work with hard to reach young people & teenage single mothers on confidence, assertiveness, and presentation skills exploring issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, friendship, social skills, home budgeting, job applications, interviews and life goals using role play scenarios, image work, quizzes and demonstrations to engage them in discussion.
I am often tasked with and open to managing a project or helping to plan/ design a project and advise on funding applications. Contact me if you need this expertise.