First Art is an artistic programme that inspires communities in Ashfield, Bolsover, Mansfield and NE Derbyshire to experience and get involved in the arts by bringing exceptional cultural experiences within reach of everyone. Vanessa’s role is to manage and provide support for the First Art programme, supporting the Director in the day to day running of First Art programme including festivals, events and activities working with a range of communities and stakeholders.

Email: vanessa@firstart.org.uk

FREELANCE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT FOR 11 MILLION REASONS TO DANCE 

People Dancing: the foundation for community dance – the UK development organisation and membership body for community and participatory dance. My role as Associate Director was to work with the Executive Director and a team of Producers and Managers on the leadership of the next phase of the organisation’s programme development and delivery and forward planning. The emphasis of this role was to be outward facing, ensuring that quality dance practice continues to sit at the heart of People Dancing’s work. My role as Consultant for 11 Million Reasons to Dance- ACE Strategic Touring programme has been to fundraise and establish a two-year integrated offer of performance, participation, development and training opportunities to six locations across the Midlands and North of England, all aimed at engaging Deaf and disabled people in areas of low engagement within the arts. 

Vanessa is co-founder of the Midlands Dance Producing Collective working alongside producers Mark Mallabone and Amy Dalton Hardy. The Collective commissioned Earthen Lamp in Summer 2021 to conduct a study, funded by Arts Council England.

Emerge is an arts festival model which has over £1m worth of investment from Spirit 2012. The Emerge Programme involves over 1000 young participants in the production of up to 24 verbal arts festivals on April 23rd in 2017, 2018, 2019 to mark the anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and is delivered in 12 Midland locations by 24 young artists with a community based collaborative commission. VCreate’s role was to lead a project management team and support each location with the skills to deliver their festival.

People Dancing-May 2015- February 2018