Since 1990 I’ve been instrumental in setting up links between local artists and N E Lincs Council’s Institutions such as the Fishing Heritage Centre and Cleethorpes Nature House to offer local children And young people Arts activities. At this point I was lecturing at Grimsby College of Art and Design And encouraged Foundation students to volunteer their services as work experience
From my teaching experiences it became clear that Grimsby needed an official Arts Group with Workshops to act like ‘a drop in centre’ were Arts Specialists could provide support for a diverse range of local groups/institutions. So from 1994 I sought local artists who were interested in setting up Artlandish Community Arts (reg Charity) liaising within departments of N.E.Lincs, Social Services, youth Services and local Schools etc. We were installed in a set of rooms at the Nunsthorpe and Bradley Park Resource Centre where 2 weekly workshops for 5-10yrs and 10-18yr olds were offered a selection of activities. The aspect of risk taking by allowing children/young people to have a voice in deciding some Their projects were a great challenge, and they loved to See their work exhibited.
I successfully established and maintained a five-year business plan. Over half a million pounds was Fundraised with each individual project budget accurately on target. Funding partnerships were developed with National lottery charities board, Safer Communities; Yorkshire and Humberside Arts; SRB; ERDF, the Bureau for Voluntary Services and other major funding Bodies. All meetings and networking, planning, grant making and budgets were my responsibility.
From 1997, with Lottery Funding 6 full time arts positions were secured; a media centre with digital Cameras, videos and editing suite; a pc; transit van (to list the larger capital items). At this point we were aware of N E lincs commitment to ‘Every Child Matters’; the outreach Workshops Increased and Lottery funding ensured that we could work on collaborative projects with Schools and youth clubs. We also extended our field of vision to involve local children’s homes and disability centers Offered work experience for volunteers and training for Staff members. Weekly staff meetings were set up to discuss, for instance, the progress of individual projects, assessing needs, quality of work and how to improve standards. Reports were written/sent to relevant funders.

Between ’98 and 2001 I returned to my own arts practices and since buying a computer and digital Camera, gained a lot of experience in DTP by producing artwork using Adobe Photoshop. Although I am by no means an expert in this field but am extremely interested in this media and would Welcome any training to help progress my skills in this area.

Returning to Schools in 2002 through supply work offered me a valuable experience in supply teaching in schools and always had a small art supply box in case the set work was finished or (non had even been supplied), always trying to link it to their curriculum.
By this time I acknowledged the fact that I should train to become a qualified teacher and eventually found a Training school who would support me.
The ‘Graduate Teacher Training Program’ enabled me to develop a diverse range of teaching and learning styles; assessment strategies such as ‘Assessment for Learning’; successful schemes of work which provided for all abilities; knowledge of National Curriculum needs; participated in team teaching with a local primary school. And recognize the TDA hallmark of assessing all aspects of participation while reviewing the evidences and outcomes for future developments.
The four key phases that the Creative Agent supports the school/community/partnership is familiar territory from my community arts/teaching experiences and the stimulating area of unlocking the creative mind is one that I have been recently researching into in a deeper way in Hungary.

My artistic/teaching career has been peppered with breaks for creativity and cultural involvement; after several years of community arts/teaching it has always been important for me to take time off in order to reconnect with my personal creativity. This has taken me to study trips in Italy, Netherlands and France (to name a few); an MA in European Studies – Graffiti /Painting, performances, slide installations in Barcelona and Winchester; Seascapes in Thailand; Canal Scenes – with a difference - in Amsterdam and currently exploring creative thinking and dislocation especially within the language of visual art in a studio based in Hungary.
I offer a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, positively welcome the challenge of responding to your school’s specific dynamics; love collaboration especially when it comes to thinking ‘outside the box’ and salute the vision of the partnership that offers the schools/artist practitioners/community these opportunities.
Hopefully look forward to being able to create the right conditions for your school/community; especially the role of linking National/International links for collaboration and have already forged initial links with teachers in the Netherlands and Hungary.