The Lightpool Festival is a festival of light, fire and performance taking place during October in Blackpool, as the climax to the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations; catapulting Blackpool's town centre and glittering Golden Mile into the realms of light fantastic fantasy like you’ve never experienced before! The festival gives you the chance to immerse yourself in an extraordinary universe of live performance, art trail adventures and spectacular art installations. Enjoy family-friendly workshops, spellbinding interactivepublic talks, light-themed activities and a host of free events.Look out too for bespoke pieces of art and installations by contemporary international artists, designers and architects that light up the resort.It all adds up to 15 nights of magic, music and illuminated magnificence.

Partnering with BBC Philharmonic, this spectacular and one-off performance will transform the ballroom’s magnificent interior with an explosion of light, as international teams of animators project bespoke visuals onto the stage, sides, and ceiling. The 90-minute performance will include 90 musicians, led by acclaimed Norwegian conductor Eivind Aadland, in his first UK engagement with BBC Philharmonic. Live performances of Copland, Britten and Saint-Saëns, and classical favourites such as Barber’s Adagio for Strings, will fill the air with music that invokes the sea and a sense of place, experienced anew with light.

Winner of the Large Tourism Event Award at Lancashire Tourism Awards 2017.In a festival leadership role, I conceptualized and orchestrated the full production for a notable community event celebrating light, the LightPool Festival 2016, an event spanning 6 nights and with 35 installations, 6 large productions, and a conference. To meet all goals, I managed the end-to-end logistics including budgets, timelines, schedules, contracts, and vendor/performer relations. I oversaw development and execution of marketing plan and collateral development (print, online, social media). In addition, I recruited, trained, and supervised the event team including operational and production staff members (volunteers, stewards, marshals). Also, I coordinated comprehensive event documentation, contracts, invoices, operations manual, and contractor’s Risk and Method Statements. I developed safety and security response and control plans. Some key achievements in this role include: ~ Designed high-impact, appealing event that garnered attention from media and community to draw an audience/attendance of 50,000. ~ Served as the first point of contact for participating artists; provided logistical, material procurement, and documentation support. ~ Implemented the Leave No Trace plan to meet environmental protection and stewardship guidelines. ~ Developed reports for funders and stakeholders to share knowledge on lessons-learned and inform future event opportunities.

During my tenure here, I served in dual roles steering creative development and overall business administration for this independent leisure company with 5 venues across Blackpool, a highly popular seaside resort in the UK. To accomplish all goals, I leveraged my key composite of talents in business strategy development and creative vision to develop, design, and produce highly acclaimed production: Funny Girls from original concept through design and production (scenes, stage logistics, running order, lighting, sound, music, special effects) for 3 new shows per year. I coordinated creative and artistic themes (stage sets, costumes, wigs, cast, crew) and liaised with choreographer, costumiers, carpenters, set painters, and wig designers. On the business side, I oversaw P&L and directed strategy development, forecasting, budgets, procurement, and restaurant menus. I collaborated with unit management on operational venue. Also, I managed contracts, booked artists, negotiated celebrity appearances/performances, and organised special events (VIP evenings, celebrations, charity events, press nights, new show opening launch nights). Some key achievements in this role include: ~ Orchestrated £1.5 million redevelopment of Funny Girls, for presentation on ITVs six-part documentary ‘Funny Girls, Serious Business’. ~ Negotiated guest appearance by Joan Collins to promote official opening of new venue. ~ Enhanced media presence and produced routines for two Funny Girls appearances at The Royal Variety Show. ~ Funny Girls performance for opening of Kathrine Hamnetts’ Milan and London fashion shows. ~ During 2016, effectively managed all business operations to deliver significant results including a 6% increase in liquor income, 2% boost in liquor gross profit, and a 9% saving on payroll costs. ~ Leveraged creative vision and entrepreneurial spirit on project management for relocation and development of multi-million-pound nightclub into a preserved art deco building.