I am a social entrepreneur with 14 years experience in culture programming and education. I started my career working with Tate Modern’s youth club Raw Canvas and then went on to produce World Music Festivals with Cultural Co-operation and manage their network of diaspora artists and radio show on Resonance FM.
I have worked with arts charity Magic Me for 8 years as Volunteer and Development Manager, managing and setting up arts projects and events, overseeing corporate partnerships, devising fundraising strategies, managing a network of 300+ volunteers and developing and leading on the communications and social media strategy for the company. In 2010 I launched the award winning and internationally renowned Cocktails in Care Homes, a volunteer led programme. Since its launch, I have developed a dementia based curriculum to train and prepare volunteers for the project and have overseen the fundraising, sponsorship and corporate support, as well as the press and media relationships.
I was honoured to be named one of Britain’s New Radicals in 2014 by Nesta for my work with Cocktails in Care Homes. Later that year I was chosen by Uniqlo to face their Selfless Selfie Christmas Campaign, which saw five individuals being picked from each country where they had stores.
In 2014/15 I developed an ambitious and groundbreaking programme of artistic residencies in care homes which will see Punchdrunk, Duckie, Upswing and Lois Weaver develop a body of work within four Anchor Trust care homes in London. This project reflects my passion and ambition to bring high quality, contemporary arts practice into isolated spaces and to individuals who don’t have access to it.
Recently I got an Arts Council award to deliver my own project as an artist working with Amy Pennington. The Mildmay Collective was a year long artistic residency at No 6 Mildmay, Notting Hill Housing. A working studio encouraged residents to get creative and develop skills. The work we made was showcased in a public exhibition at the Printhouse Gallery in Dalston.
As well as delivering community arts projects I have curated immersive art parties with collective Silently Revolting.
