Working with Artistic Directors Kerry Fletcher and Natasha Khamjani, and supported by Arts Council England, East London Dance, English Folk Dance and Song Society and Stanley Halls, we work with a growing company of 30+ dancers and musicians on our Step Hop House street theatre performance piece at outdoor festivals and events across the UK. We are also developing a new piece, Dusk, which will be touring in 2020.Folk Dance Remixed is a fresh, quirky, colourful and magical collision of traditional and Hip Hop dance and music: high-energy, with a unique remix of Maypole, Clogging, Ceilidh, Street, House and Breakdance with a hint of African & Bollywood… to a live soundtrack of fiddle & beat boxing - this is Folk and Street Dance like you’ve never seen it before!

Working with Ava Hunt Theatre on 'Journeys of Destiny' - a new theatre piece for primary schools in Derbyshire. 'Journeys of Destiny' uses stories and the verbatim material from Saad AlKassab's journey from Homms to Melbourne. (TED Talk: Saad AlKassab). This is Arts Council funded with support from Tangere Arts, Derby Theatre and University of Derby.I am working with Ava Hunt to support the project, alongside an exciting creative team including Australian award winning writer/composer Craig Christie, Sarah Brigham (Creative Consultant), Kirsten Shirling (Creative Producer). ​

I have been leading Rough Truffles Community Choir in Belper since 2017.I led Kaleidoscope Community Choir in Derby City from 2018 to July 2024.Both choirs sing a variety of folk and traditional music from the UK and beyond. Both choirs are run on the principles of the Natural Voice Network. "Natural Voice is about celebrating the voice you were born with, rather than trying to train it to an ideal of perfection. It's about building accepting, non-judgmental communities that sing together. It's about welcoming all voices into a group without audition and working from there to make a group sound. It's about making learning by ear accessible to the whole group so that nobody needs to be able to read music."

Board member of OPUS Music CIC - creating high-quality music-making opportunities for people of all ages, with a specialism in taking music-making into healthcare settings.http://opusmusic.org

Sheffield based artist led organisation that coordinates a range of participatory events, exploring folk traditions through practical workshops, performances, debate and discussion.www.soundpost.org.uk

Matinée provides film screenings for people living in the community with dementia, or who have memory challenges, and their friends, family members or carers. We aim to create a sociable and friendly atmosphere and hope that all our audiences will enjoy the film and activities that we provide. The project aims to reduce social isolation and provide cultural stimulation and enjoyment.We run at least 4 screenings each year in each of the 9 districts of Derbyshire, and Derby City. The project is supported by a great team of volunteers. My role is coordinating everything from partnerships, publicity, volunteers, scheduling, and pouring the tea!www. matineederbyshire.org.ukMatinée screenings are run across Derbyshire by Arts Derbyshire and supported by Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Health Services and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Arts Development Officer (part-time) based at Erewash Museum, working with council departments, grass roots organisations, local artists (professional and amateur), agencies and community groups. Encouraging the use of creativity and the arts around four main themes:- Arts and Health: a range of projects with older, vulnerable people, and children/young people with mental health/emotional issues.- Arts and Community: supporting the Erewash Festival of Light with community events celebrating Harvest Moon, Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas and Chinese New Year; working with colleagues in the Community Safety team on projects for young people in holiday time.- Arts and Heritage: working with museum colleagues and others on various themes including Remembrance projects and Folk traditions.- Arts and Regeneration: working with Arts Erewash, the local arts and creative industries forum, and colleagues in the council's regeneration and planning departments.

My responsibilities included: • Development and delivery of the strategic learning plan for this Heritage Lottery funded project• Management of the learning programme budget of £400,000• Management of 18 bespoke creative arts projects in primary and secondary schools across England using folk arts and heritage material• Instigating, developing and delivering the award winning online resource bank of material generated as part of the learning programme (Music Teacher Award for Excellence, Best digital/technological resource 2016)• Recruitment, contracting and management of 40 artists and 11 trainees • Management of professional development training events across England• Building and maintaining good working relationships with a variety of cultural partners to programme and deliver a variety of family, community and adult learning projects• Planning and delivery of a national conference event bringing together all the schools, children, artists, cultural partners and general public to celebrate the achievements of the project• Management of the evaluation, monitoring and reporting of relevant data for funders and partners• Recruitment and management of volunteers for all aspects of the learning programme• Writing articles, blogs, reports and copy for publicity on the project for press and EFDSS

• Assisting with successful bid writing for Sage Gateshead partnership project with Barnardos in deprived areas of Newcastle and North Tyneside• Festival organisation for Towersey Village Festival

My responsibilities included: • Management of £1.9m Sing Up TNP budget • Providing secure leadership and support for the whole of the Sing Up programme, as part of a four-person Consortium staff leadership team, and managing a team of 14 staff at Sage Gateshead• Developing relevant strategic partnerships with a wide range of external colleagues • Developing specific training resources, products and packages with links to the national curriculum • Developing and rolling out the Sing Up Quality Framework, and integration with Sing Up Awards and Training• Develop Accessible Learning training and development to ensure all singing provision is fully inclusive• Developing training and CPD to support singing in schools and other settings,

My responsibilities included: • Developing the strategic plan for the Sing Up Vocal Force programme (£1,800,000 over three years)• Administration, management and delivery of the programme• Researching, encouraging, advising and developing 60 responsive and bespoke Vocal Force projects across England with a wide range of diverse partners, organisations and participants • Building and maintaining the partnerships in each project• Recruiting and managing programme advisors, project managers, coordinator & administrator• Supporting, advising, assessing, monitoring and evaluating all projects• Regular reporting to Sing Up management, Consortium partners and Marketing & Communications colleagues

My responsibilities included: • Providing strategic direction for the Arts Partnership of 9 local authorities• Developing and implementing the Arts Partnership's programmes of work and facilitate joint working, including establishing and maintaining a business plan for the Arts Partnership• Managing, monitoring and evaluating the Arts Partnership projects and initiatives • Identifying internal and external funding potential and prepare and submit grant applications for bids on Arts Partnership-led initiatives and secure growth of resources for the arts• Management of freelance contract staff, and the part-time artsderbyshire web editor• Advising senior managers and elected members on matters relating to the Arts Partnership• Representing the Arts Partnership and advocating for the arts with regional and local agencies• Establishing and maintaining links with external agencies on Arts Partnership initiatives• Managing and monitoring the Arts Partnership budget (£180,000)• Producing reports to the Arts Partnership as required

• Writing and implementing a Joint Arts Development Strategy for both councils• Managing budgets and community arts projects for both councils• Writing and coordinating bi-monthly arts newsletter for both councils• Management of Arts Project Officer (CBC) and Chair of Derbyshire Arts Development Group (2006)

• Administrator and coordinator of Association of Festival Organisers - offering support and advice to voluntary festival organisers through newsletters, website, annual conference and training days• Administrator and coordinator for Folk Arts England - a national network for folk development agencies across England through regular bulletins, annual conference and training days• Festival and Event organisation for Sidmouth International Festival, Towersey Village Festival and Folk in the Fall at the South Bank Centre, London including supervising live events, stage management, publicity and marketing, management of volunteers, risk assessments• Funding bids to Arts Council England, National Lottery and others• Team management with full-time, part-time and volunteer staff• Responsibility for budget making and strategic decision-making

• Administration and management of various projects from Residential weekends to one-day workshops and school projects • Responsibility for contracts with artists and venues, box office administration, finance, publicity and public relations, coordination of volunteers, accommodation, catering and hospitality• Initiation of new projects and funding proposals• Creation, management and maintenance of accounting system using relational database software