I'm passionate about making a difference in my community. I have worked within the Music and Culture Industries for over ten years, in many different guises but most prominently as the creator and director of Long Division Festival, and now Long Division CIC. I'm a "doer" and excel at turning ambitious and inventive ideas and visions into reality, from the top level down to the actual delivery. Until recently, I didn't know what this was but I've realised the term Creative Producer sums up much of what I do. In January 2020 I was awarded "Developing Your Creative Practice" funding from the Arts Council to developing my Creative Producing skills outside of my home city of Wakefield. I've secured funding and sponsorship for Long Division Festival since 2013, with my most recent accomplishment being securing two years of Arts Council funding, contributing to an ambitious £250,000 project budget that ties together a wide range of creative strands, from festival programming to running education projects and mentoring new job roles. This includes a development of the #YoungTeam education project, the first GCSE Level (Arts Award) qualification in DIY Events Management. In Summer 2019 I was the Creative Programmer for Wakefield Council's "Festival Of The Moon" built around Luke Jerram's Museum Of The Moon. The 18 day event included a the city's largest ever indoor gig (Public Service Broadcasting) and an appearance from the first British Astronaut Helen Sharman. Well over 30,000 people attended. I previously worked for The Challenge as an Assistant Programme Manager. I loved the role, which involved setting up Social Action projects for young people aged 15-17 and then, in the summer, being on the ground delivering those projects with the young people. It makes a huge difference to both the young people and the organisations and I vastly development my knowledge of the third sector and it's importance. I've undertaken a range of journalistic challenges over the years, from running a fanzine reporting on Indie culture, to writing a non-fiction book, to a regular column in the Wakefield Express for over 3 years. I create my own music, including work as a band and soundtracking film. I am part of the Theatre group Cuckoo's Egg as a Producer, Director and Writer. I have always enjoyed work that encourages co-operation and the forming of interesting and new partnerships.