Creative Industries

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

"It was buzzing but organised. I'd definitely work with you again as this was the most successful of all the events I worked on"
PR Manager, Manchester Fashion Week

BBC & ITV: ralph & katie

Two young adults wearing very dressed up clothes are holding hands and looking into the camera. The man, Ralph, wears glasses, a dark suit, burgundy shirt and tie, and has a small post of flowers on his blazer lapel. To his right stands Katie, wearing a beautiful deep red silk dress with short sleeves and a wide waistband. She has matching deep red lipstick highlighting her smile. On her head she wears a garland of peach, red and white roses. Soft, transparent curtains and bunting are just visible behind them.

PRODUCTION TRAINING EVALUATOR
Evaluation of ITV, BBC and DANC (Disabled Arts Networking Community)'s TV production and training workshops following the making of Ralph & Katie from start to finish. The programme involved 30 D/deaf, disabled, autistic and neurodivergent people working with the crew of this new tv series by ITV Productions for the BBC. How did this type of training benefit D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people? And what did the production team learn about making the industry more accessible? Find out in this short report.

Transmission Vamp

Transmission Vamp was an industry event for directors of arts organisations working with broadcast media.
It was commissioned by the Arts Council of England and hosted by Cornerhouse. I was asked to programme a high profile, appetite whetting event in which leaders of digital engagement, such as commissioners from the BBC, Channel 4, Sadlers Wells and Tate, came together to inspire arts leaders from across the NW in the possibilities of digital engagement through innovative content development. My role was to shape the feel of the event, secure the speakers and venue, invite and secure a select audience and host the event. Find out more from speaker Kinglsey Jayasekera's blog post round up of the event *here*.

Escapade PR

Development of interior design and styling content for Escapade PR's social media and offline campaign to promote 3M Command products. The work included creating videos, photographs and blog posts showcasing ideas for using their client's products. The content was used across facebook and internet TV channels as well as press, trade shows and point of sales promotions.

Manchester Fashion Week

Commissioned to create and run fashion-based workshops for this networking and PR campaign raising the profile of the fashion industry in Manchester. Drop-in workshops for any level of interest or experience included accessories customisation and upcycling ideas. The sessions catered for around 200 people over 4 hours.

Building Schools for the Future

A Creative Partnerships, Arts Council England NW and Manchester City Council partnership contract to explore and assess the creative opportunities for pupils and teachers could work with designers, architects and developers to contribute to, and benefit from, changes at their schools. Working with 4 secondary schools in Manchester, a number of possible outputs were identified which the above partners could continue developing.

Manchester Craft Mafia

Founding Manchester Craft Mafia; a voluntary membership group of contemporary craft / designer-makers. Having identified a gap in the market regionally, the network provides a central portal for all things craft across Greater Manchester including business development opportunities for emerging contemporary makers, social events for community building, and online resources signposting the range of craft related opportunities taking place across Greater Manchester. Part of the international Craft Mafia network.

PlayStation3

Development and delivery of experiential marketing workshops as part of the national launch campaign for PlayStation3's game Little Big Planet. Focussing on the customisation, social and community aspects of the game and the emphasis on textiles in the game's design. Character design and customisation textile workshops were held in the temporary pop-up Little Big Lounge, Manchester City centre, open to all ages, and any / no levels of experience in either gaming or making.

Design Initiative

Management of the Setting Up Scheme, a creative business start-up and incubation programme offering rent free studio space plus a comprehensive business development programme to designer-makers, multi-media, new media, eco-designers, photographers and public artists who wanted to establish their business in Greater Manchester.

Ideas Foundation

Project management of industry based education activity for 14 to 19 year olds. Working with professionals from the fields of graphic design, advertising, broadcast media, digital media, PR, marketing and architecture to create workshops, simulated work environments, and pitches for genuine live briefs in school, in industry spaces, and through placements and other types of employer engagement.

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Three years as Vice Chair of Manchester Craft & Design Centre, a combined retail, studio and exhibition space, helping lead the organisation through significant changes and profile building including revenue and capital funding, staff restructuring, business development and leading the Creative Committee sub-group.

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

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.

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