ROLES & EXPERIENCE:
Freelance Portfolio highlights
Since going freelance in March 2020, I've worked with some really brilliant people and projects, Highlights have included:
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Being appointed Programme Lead for Creative Scotland's Culture Collective - nurturing a network of 26 community-rooted projects to explore participatory, creative approaches in response to Covid-19.
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Assessing grant applications with representatives from all four UK Arts Councils and German partners, for the Cultural Bridge exchange programme.
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Being appointed Associate with evaluation specialists TIALT (There Is An Alternative), working on an evaluation of Creative Scotland's Create:Inclusion Project.
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Researching and writing a series of case studies for Arts Council England's Creative People and Places programme, telling the stories of how communities have responded to the Covid-19 crisis.
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Project Managing The Action Project for The David Hume Institute, aiming to identify the actions which can enable Scotland to achieve a prosperous, sustainable, inclusive and fair future.
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Supporting Cultured Mongrel Dance Theatre as Company Manager, looking to the strategic development of the organisation, securing funding for new projects, and leading There Are No Stupid Questions.
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Working with Luminate Scotland to evaluate and share learning from Creative Ageing in the Pandemic - a project matching artists with care homes and organisations working with older people to deliver live, remote arts activities. The report is available here, and we recorded this series of podcasts along the way, too.
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Designing and leading a conversation-led evaluation for the first online edition of This Way Up, the UK's conference for innovation in film exhibition.
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Writing this gorgeous report capturing the work and impact of Creative People & Places Hounslow (beautiful design all courtesy of ArtJar).
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Speaking at events and leading workshops with Creative Scotland (‘From Participation to Co-Creation’), Creative Entrepreneurs Club (‘Cracking on and getting shit done’), Eden Project Communities and SHIFT - Summer School collaboration between The Glasgow School of Art , the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Queen Margaret University (‘Planning for Action’).
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Working on my own creative practice, which this year has included a nature-themed book trail for Book Week Scotland, creating Linlithgow's Canal Trail, and nurturing a community garden (with pop-up poetry installation by Skye Loneragan).
In 2017, I researched and wrote Innovation in Fundraising, a two-year Creative Scotland-funded research project, bringing together expertise and learning from across the sector for the benefit of all.
Employment highlights
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Macrobert Arts Centre: Operations Director ( 2018 – 2020), Development Manager (2015 – 2017)
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Voluntary Arts Scotland: Director (2017 - 2018)
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Venture Trust: Funding and Communications Manager (2010 – 2014)
Awards and memberships
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The Stage UK Awards: Community Project (Culture Collective, 2024)
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Applied Arts Scotland: Member (2023-)
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Scottish Charity Awards: Community Project of the Year (Stirling Soup, 2017)
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Clore Social: Fellow (2017)
Volunteer and community projects
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West Lothian Foodbank: Warehouse Volunteer
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Impact Funding Partners: Board Member
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Stirling Soup: Founder
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Fun Palaces: Ambassador and Maker
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Big Lunch: Host
WHAT PEOPLE SAY:
"Kathryn worked with the Creative People and Places Programme to write a series of Case Studies about how the projects in the network had responded to the Covid-19 Lockdowns and restrictions. Kathryn was extremely organised throughout, and the project was well-managed and delivered to a high standard and to each deadline. Her approach was creative and thoughtful, and she gave all the Places an opportunity to share their learning from that period in a considered and expansive way. The projects loved working with Kathryn and the Case Studies she wrote have become an important part of the way we share the learning of the CPP programme".
Caroline Griffin, Creative People and Places programme, Arts Council England
“The intelligence, analytical ability and strategic clarity Kathryn has demonstrated, combined with her realistic, pragmatic approach, has achieved a huge amount in a very short space of time"
Robin Simpson, Chief Executive, Voluntary Arts
“I can’t really thank you enough for the way you approached the culture strategy work. It’s been a major part of our thinking and the way you managed it all – from tone to logistics – was impressive”.
Leonie Bell, Head of Culture Strategy and Cultural Engagement, Scottish Government.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Kathryn over the last year developing a project to help integrate veterans back into their communities using the medium of the performing Arts. I have found Kathryn to be inspirational, visionary and selfless in her approach. Always looking for new ideas, it has been refreshing to see someone embrace a group of people who needed help. Her attention to detail and formidable drive and determination has made the process very successful".
Charles Wallace, Scottish Veterans Commissioner
"Working with Kathryn is always fantastic. She listens to our brief and responds with inspiring and energetic talks which are perfectly suited to our audiences. A complete professional we are consistently impressed with her work with us. We look forward to continuing to work with Kathryn in the future".
Mo Odling, Eden Project Communities
"Kathryn worked as part of the David Hume Institute team to project manage our largest piece of research with over 4,500 people across Scotland. As well as the day to day project management, she led relationships with some of the key contacts and developed new relationships to increase the reach of the conversation. She also facilitated some of the conversations. Always positive, always smiling she was a joy to work with!"
Susan Murray, Director of David Hume Institute
"Kathryn is an absolutely amazing facilitator! She ran an online session for our Arts Play Health group and she had so much energy, passion, and knowledge"
Katey Warran, Coordinator for the Arts Health Early Career Research Network
"Something special happens when Kathryn is in the room. Usually this includes her innate ability to bring people together in a considered and generous way, to build action through exchange, collaboration and consensus. She has nurtured her style of leadership to create space for diverse perspectives, new and sometimes challenging ideas, and is then able to channel these into organised and coordinated actions and projects that are achievable as well as ambitious. Highly skilled facilitation skills, an inquiring and analytical mind and an ability to connect people are all evident when working with Kathryn. Kathryn is an ideal partner, colleague and/or collaborator for taking creative and community driven ideas forward into thoughtful and engaging projects that are inclusive, meaningful and memorable".
Kevin Harrison, Director - Artlink Central / Lead - Stirling Place Partnership / Chair - Our Connected Neighbourhoods.
"Thank you for an excellent session on volunteering - some great tips and learning we can share with those we work with".
Feedback from workshop at SCVO's The Gathering
"I came across your [Innovation in Fundraising] report and thought it was outstanding. The content was rich, it was beautifully presented and ideas just leapt off the page. If only all reports had the same zing!"
Fundraiser, Citizens' Advice Bureau