SALLY FORT

 

Project Management...

"Sally was a pleasure to work with, organised from the very start and kept us updated with schedules and planning ahead of the project. I would have no hesitation in working with Sally again on future projects." NF, Director, Seal Films

The Whitworth Art Gallery.....................................

Collectors Evenings: organising and promoting a series of events to encourage new collectors of contemporary textile art. Working with curators, international and UK textile artists; and with relevant contacts and networks to ensure a buzzing lively attendance for each event.

British Art Show 6...................................................

Strategic central co-ordination of the education and public programme events of Castlefield Gallery, Cornerhouse, Chinese Arts Centre, The International 3, Manchester Art Gallery, Urbis and The Whitworth Art Gallery. Creating, managing and marketing workshops, talks, professional development training days, printed resources for the joint city-wide programme, and ensuring collaborative working around this major four-yearly contemporary art based touring exhibition, originated by Hayward Gallery.

MyArtSpace..............................................................

Consultant for Culture Online project - advising multi-media design  company The SEA on the viability of a collecting service using mobile phones  for schools, museums and art galleries. This role included advising on the selection of museums and galleries whose character would compliment the pilot phase of the project; creating education packs, lesson plans, assessment opportunities, national curriculum and QCA links; advising through evaluation phases; and working in consultation with practicing art, design and history teachers to make the service relevant and current; monitoring the take-up of the service by teachers and reporting on their feedback; and working on advocacy and dissemination of the project including sessions at Engage regional meetings, and at the annual Museums Association conference.

Setting Up Scheme.................................................

Mangement of the new 2006-08 scheme for the Design Initiative. The Setting Up Scheme offers rent free studio space plus a comprehensive business development programme to designer-makers, multi-media, new media, eco-designers, photographers and public artists who want to establish their business in Greater Manchester.  Co-ordination included recruiting, matching and contracting hosts and new designers; meeting and monitoring outputs according to European ERDF and Arts Council funding; developing business training sessions for designers throughout their placement; and managing the ongoing support of the placements through central co-ordination and a mentoring programme. To date 105 designers, makers and visual artists have completed the Setting Up Scheme over 14 years. The scheme has a 90% success rate in its placements setting up a successful business by the end of their 2 year programme.
 

.....................................................Nesta Illuminate

The Norton Priory Museum Trust created a full-colour 3-D image of its 650 year-old St Christopher statue using innovative, interactive technology to introduce this nationally important treasure to a wider audience. Nesta employed Sally as its Project Superviser, a role it descibes as a 'critical friend' liasing between the project partners and NESTA ensuring the project fulfilled the aims, milestones and budgets set out in its funding application and agreements. Delivery of the contract included regular visits to Norton Priory and other project partners including National Museums Liverpool Conservation Centre, and a local school 'Grange Primary School'; advising the Priory on user consulation activity; briefing the digital technology company Vertalis on museum visitor behaviour; and advising on the evaluation, contingency and exit strategies for the project.

..............................................Artists in Education

Managing media and visual arts education programme and exhibition for the Step-Up  festival celebrating excellence in arts provision in NW schools. For 2005's Step Up festival, the visual arts strand developed projects brokering relationships between schools and organisations such as Cornerhouse and Urbis. Other schools developed in-house projects which formed part of a major exhibition running throughout the festival. The works shown ranged from textile design, painting and drawing, graphic design / illustration, sculpture and filmmaking.

.....................Engage International Conference

Recruiting and confirming city-wide hosts for annual conference looking at Change in the gallery, visual arts and social policy sector. Co-ordinating breakout workshops with a range of partners; problem-solving local logistics; local liasion with host venues; advising on fundraising; contacting and liaising with major strategic partners.

.................................................................Spearfish

Spearfish arts development - liaising with arts / youth services at local authority and community level to run street art programmes for disaffected young people across the North West, and associated fundraising. Example project: New Approach project working with street artists, film makers, fashion designers, DJs, music promoters, illustrators and graphic designers to run workshops and short courses for young people congregating in Manchester City Centre. The project aimed to reduce anti-social behaviour, improve relationships between cultural / regeneration sites of interest and local young people; and offer participants new ideas about vocational development by enabling them to sample and work with a variety of professionals in creative industries. New Approach was funded by Barclays.