NCCPE Leadership Seminar

I was invited by Prof. Michael Scott to talk about the work Warwick District's Arts Section and Creative Compact delivered with the University of Warwick as part of CultureFest at the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement conference (Nov 20222). The work is regarded as an example of best practice when connecting academic research to the wider community.

Ignite

In July 2022, I was invited to talk about Warwick District's CultureFest at Warwick District Council's Ignite event.

Shakespeare's England: Tourism Network

In April 2022, I was invited to talk about Warwick District's CultureFest at Shakespeare's England's Tourism Network event at Coventry Building Society Arena.

Spark:Ignite 2022

Spark:Ignite 2022 was a FREE, one-day symposium, which took place at the Royal Spa Centre on Friday 11 February 2022. It followed on from the huge success of Spark 2020 and Spark 2021. Spark aimed to turn creative talk into creative action, and galvanise our creative business community around a common purpose; promotion and growth of the sector. Delegates were introduced to just some of the exciting organisations, projects, and initiatives in the area – and shared information about their work and plans for the future. I was responsible for the programme, marketing , budget, event management, reporting, and speaking at the symposium.

Visit the Spark YouTube Channel to watch recordings of sessions

Spark:Ignite 2021

Spark 2021 aimed to turn creative talk into creative action, and galvanise our creative business community around a common purpose; recovery, promotion, and growth of the sector. Online delegates were introduced to just some of the exciting organisations, projects, and initiatives in the area – and shared information about their work and plans for the future. The programme, spread over five days, was structured around five core themes; voice, placemaking, pathfinding, engagement, and innovation, and includes presentations, discussions, networking opportunities, and an online exhibition.  I was responsible for the programme, marketing , budget, conference app, event management and reporting.

Visit website to watch recorded sessions

Spark 2020

Spark was a FREE, one-day symposium, which took place at the Royal Spa Centre on Friday 14 February 2020. It aimed to turn creative talk into creative action, and galvanise our creative business community around a common purpose; promotion and growth of the sector. I was responsible for the programme, marketing , budget, conference app, event management and reporting.

Visit website

Kids in Museums: Family Fortunes (2015)

Kids in Museums mission is to work with museums nationwide to make them more welcoming of children, young people and families. I was invited to London's Science Museum to speak about Warwick Arts Centre's Family Ambassador Scheme, where I talked about how I established the scheme and the positive impact it was having on the organisation. I also took a couple of Ambassadors with me too.

Regional Marketing and Communication Networks (2008-2012)

Every month, Audiences Central ran a programme of Marketing Network and Communication Network events across the West Midlands. They were designed to introduce industry professionals to different arts and cultural venues around the region, share knowledge and insight,and connect people. I ran the programme for four years, facilitating over 60 events on subjects ranging from social media to marketing strategy.

Jolt: Shake up your Thinking (2011)

Audiences Central’s 2011 annual symposium was part of the European Extending The Margins project and aimed to ask challenging questions about the future of audience engagement in the UK and Europe. I developed and managed a one-day event, which attracted international delegates and speakers who explored such topics as the challenges of engaging hard to reach audiences, local audiences, volunteering, funding, cultural offers, and new technology. Speakers came from such organisations as mac birmingham; Museos del Cabildo de Tenerife, Spain; London 2012; Arts Council England, and National Theatre.

Extending the Margins (2010-2012)

AEN's Extending the Margins programme aimed to facilitate sharing of knowledge and experience of cultural managers and exchange best practice. The knowledge acquired through this process enabled managers to engage more effectively with their target client groups, making arts and culture more accessible to the widest spectrum of the population. As part of the programme, I presented UK audience development case studies at symposiums in Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium, and managed the UK's conference 'Jolt'.

Physical Digital: Engaging and Understanding Audiences (2010)

Rapid changes in technology over the last decade (2000-2010) revolutionised the way in which the cultural sector engaged with audiences. Physical Digital was a one-day conference designed to explore new techniques and approaches, and look to the future. Topics included guerrilla marketing; the power of virals; navigating digital audiences; how free online tools can be used to capture and grow audiences; and overcoming the digital divide, with speakers from such organisations as Company Pictures (Skins, Shameless); 1000Heads, Black Country Touring, University Of York, Mudlark, The Herbert Art Gallery, Rural Media Company, Arts-Sense and iShed’s The Extended Theatre Experience. I programmed, marketed and managed the event.

Culture and Couture: Are shopping centres the new arts centres? (2010)

Aimed at leaders, directors, chief executives and senior managers in the arts, cultural and non-cultural sectors, Audiences Central’s first Leadership Breakfast discussed the relationship between the retail sector and the arts. The event took place at Birmingham’s multi-million pound Bullring complex and featured leading representatives from both sectors - who explored a contentious and topical subject: whether shopping centres are truly new cultural venues. I was responsible for event planning and management.