Completed Projects
Canterbury Children’s Centre commission to document, evaluate and interpret through a national publication the three year journey of creative practice and its impact on the lives of the children, staff and families at the centre. Searching for Meaning was published in October 2006.
National Museums Liverpool commission in August 05 to design and develop the programme for Children First – a regional conference on cultural entitlement and learning in early years education – in partnership with the five boroughs of Merseyside and the earlyarts regional network. The 300 delegate conference was part of a month long series of events exploring the impact and importance of quality creative practice in early education.
CAPE UK contract in July 05 as evaluation and development consultant for the Cultural Entitlement research programme jointly commissioned by Arts Council England, Yorkshire, Creative Partnerships and Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The work resulted in a publication evaluating the capacity of cultural organisations to develop an entitlement to culture within schools across the region.
Arts Council England, Yorkshire commission in March 05 to develop in collaboration with stakeholders an Arts and Early Years Strategic Plan, Imagination for Life and Learning, a regional vision for growth of the arts and early years sectors, providing a framework through which Arts Council Yorkshire is able to prioritise its strategic delivery of the national Children, Young People and the Arts strategy.
Arts Council England, North West commission in August 03 to research and design the programme for Catalyst - a 500 delegate Cultural Education and Policy conference, also the EU Presidency Event for 2005 www.catalystconference.co.uk, also the EU Presidency Cultural Event. In tandem with the programming, Isaacs UK established and managed a Champions Group made up of key thinkers in culture and education across twenty two European countries; co-directed all stakeholder liaison with the ACENW; built a broad and solid partnership base throughout all European cultural networks to support the conference marketing; managed the Catalyst online presence including the knowledge bank and the debating forum; and designed quarterly e-bulletins raising the profile of Catalyst issues for over fifteen hundred potential delegates.
Arts Council England, Yorkshire commission to investigate and publish research on International Creative Practice in Early Years Settings commissioned in September 03. The research provided new visions and partnership opportunities for the Yorkshire early years Hub and was delivered as part of Isaacs UK’s contribution to programming the national early years and creativity conference, New Worlds, at West Yorkshire Playhouse in November 2004.
CAPE UK commission in July 03 for capacity building and advisory support to build a networked learning community for Advanced Skills Teachers in the Creative Partnerships programme.
Metier commission in Spring 03 to develop Learning and Business Development plans for 150 artists and creative businesses in Bradford, as part of the Local Initiative Fund regeneration and learning programme.
South Yorkshire Arts Education consortium commission in March 03 to facilitate an evaluation of their work and explore options for the future of a coherent learning network of several arts, education and community arts organisations.
Previous Roles and Experience:
Former Head of Lifelong Learning for Metier (1999-2002), the National Training Organisation of the Arts and Entertainments Industries, evaluating and building learning and professional development strategies for the arts sector in partnership with industry bodies, funders, educationalists, unions, arts organisations and freelancers, as well as non-arts partners in learning, training and skills growth.
Managed NetGAIN (1999-2001) - a £2m European Social Fund online learning and professional development programme for multi-disciplinary arts businesses across Europe, offering business guidance, learning diagnostics, self-directed study, and online debate to arts professionals.
Directed ArtsExplorer (2001-02) - the first national consortium bid with leading national arts agencies for a fully accessible information portal to lifelong learning and cultural resources through a £1.2m New Opportunities Fund Digitisation programme.
University for Industry Task Force (2001-02) member to broaden understanding of, and provision for, vehicles for learning within the arts sector. Resulted in the first national arts call centre to be launched through LearnDirect for all arts and entertainment learning and professional development opportunities.
Arts Officer for Norwich City Council (1996–9); Community Arts Officer for Dacorum Borough Council (1992–6); Validated and taught BA, HND, BTEC, and GNVQ performing arts and media, marketing, business development, and arts admin courses at Universities of Hertfordshire and East Anglia, Norwich School of Art and Design and Norwich City College (1992–9).
Trained in theatre (BA Honours - 1991), dance and music, and retains a current appreciation and understanding of the issues affecting performing, visual and media artists in the UK, and their work and roles within the education system. Enjoys spending any spare time with her young family and indulging her passion for paragliding across the beautiful Peaks, Pennines and Dales.