Harper Ray: Award-Winning Theatre Maker | Arts Education Innovator | Audience Engagement SpecialistI'm deeply committed to fostering collaboration, creativity, and community within the arts. My career, marked by innovation in theatre and multidisciplinary arts, focuses on revolutionising how we engage with audiences. From pioneering INTERFACE to enhancing family engagement at the Globe Theatre, my work has significantly increased new audiences eg first-time visitors increased by over 60% at the Landmark Arts Centre in my first year at the helm. My strategies for audience development, shared at prestigious conferences such as the AMA Annual Conference, stem from my academic research into audience dynamics. Among others I have been honoured with 3 audience awards from A.C.E (Arts Council England) I've directed interactive film, theatre, caberet and circus. Writing and staging successful productions in the West End, in site specific locations, on community stages and for global tours, demonstrates my dedication to the arts at all levels. Beyond my creative endeavours, I'm a proponent of sustainability in the cultural sector and actively participate in cross-industry networks. My collaborations with international institutions underscore my leadership in the arts community. Serving on panels like the WCIT Senior Arts Panel and contributing to various advisory groups, I am committed to enhancing the sector's impact.I am Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) Senior Arts Panel and the BBC Charter Renewal Steering Group, the Directors Guild of Great Britain, fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and 21st Century Leadership with A.C.E and Battersea Arts Centre. As a contributor to cultural advisory groups, from parliamentary think tanks to grassroots initiatives, I am deeply invested in advancing the sector's impact and reach.Other conferences and events I have addressed include the TES Festival of Education (co- authored with The Times), the Innovation Panel at the Children's Media Conference, and the Arts Council England's Family Arts Conference.