From 2020-2023, I balanced my freelance portfolio with my day job in youth mentoring and careers/employability. I’m looking for opportunities to transfer the skills I’ve gained from working in outreach and artist liaison in areas and industries which would further my professional development.
Invite me on LinkedIn to find out the granular details of any of these projects or my pre-pandemic work ✌🏾
2024
Selina Thompson Ltd
Marketing Officer
It’s been a minute since I’ve worked in theatre but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on the company’s new midscale show, Twine. I supported the team with evaluation, archiving the production, and worked with their partners Fierce Festival and the Legacy Centre of Excellence. I took the lead on running an integrated campaign to drive ticket sales for their Birmingham premiere, raise awareness of the company within the city, and produce media coverage. It was joyful to see us on the BBC Midlands Today Breakfast Show as a result.
Birmingham Opera Company
Project Officer
I can cross off working in opera now! I supported the team with evaluation, marketing, and providing administrative production support tied to their Czech Republic production of Two Widows and Birmingham productions of Brum Commissions and New Year.
Bearwood Community Hub
Evaluator
Working with Diandra McCalla, I produced the impact report for this incredible organisation. We worked with the team to establish the methodology and frame their annual survey around their updated Theory of Change. Together we facilitated interviews with staff, volunteers, and visitors; and crunched the data. I took the lead with drawing out qualitative case studies.
We Are Parable
Cultural Curator
Working with the incredible We Are Parable, this was the first time I’ve worked in film! I worked closely with We Are Parable Programming & Audience Manager and Marketing Manager, as well as regional independent cinemas on the ground, to develop and engage grassroots audiences for Ramata-Toulate Sy’s incredible debut BANEL & ADAMA and support the overall campaign for the release of the film UK wide.
2023
‘Twas the year I gave my freelance career a break, and like other Midlanders who were booked and busy because of the Commonwealth Games, I finally took some holidays! I recalibrated and focused on my day job where I smashed targets and delivered a wicked work experience programme.
2022
China Plate Theatre
Associate Producer: We Still Here
I worked with Participatory Artist Jane Thakoordin who combined crafts and activism to celebrate the everyday people behind social change and the UK civil rights movement. With a focus on Ladywood (Birmingham), Jane worked with community groups and residents to make their own protest textile banner. Over the course of these workshops, we shared food, connected, and sewed. The resulting 8 banners distilled the stories of quiet and loud activism in North Birmingham.
I supported Jane over the course of these workshops and curated the outdoor arts exhibition of these banners at Handsworth Park. These were debuted on 19 – 20 August 2022.
This project was a Creative City Project generously supported by Birmingham City Council. Generously supported by Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Transport for West Midlands and National Express West Midlands.
China Plate Theatre
Associate Producer: On Our Way
I conceived and produced On Our Way. The intention was to transform 8 bus stops on Soho Road into stained glass art galleries. The artwork themselves were co-created with our wonderful Artist Curator Nilupa Yasmin, and groups with memories and connections to the area. The first bus stop gallery was debuted at the Bus Boycott Block Party. The rest were debuted in May 2022. Here’s a blog explaining the inspiration behind On Our Way.
I supported with the fundraising, led the steering group of partners and funders, coordinated the workshop programme, and the marketing and PR of this project. I am immensely proud of how On Our Way led to the regeneration of bus stops on Soho Road.
With many thanks to:
2021
China Plate Theatre
Associate Producer: Bus Boycott Block Party
This Birmingham-based independent theatre studio, are currently developing a musical inspired by the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott. Diandra McCalla and I were recruited as Associate Producers to co-design a creative programme which spoke to the story of the Boycott, and surfaced histories of local activism too.
- In early Spring 2021, we embarked on a feasibility study commissioned by Birmingham City Council. It was to understand what would residents, community stakeholders, and artists would like in North Birmingham.
- With these findings, we commissioned three artists who were inspired by the story of the Bristol Bus Boycott. They were Jane Thakoordin (for We Still Here), Nilupa Yasmin (for On Our Way), and Black Hertiage Walks and Overhear (for Soho Settlers). These are the three projects that are a part of the To The Streets musical creative programme.
- On Sat 28 Aug 2021, we produced a one-day, free family “Block Party” at Soho House Museum. It not only gave a preview of the musical, we also had a live DJ, a walking tour, and artist workshops. It was the debut of our creative programme artists too and we had over 200 attendees.
My role in particular was artist liaison and support with getting Jane’s and Nilupa’s respective projects off the ground; event production support; leading the marketing and communication strategy behind this event; event support; and produced an evaluation report with audience insights. 📸 Ahsen Sayeed
Understanding British Portraits Network
Short film: “From Decolonial to Anti-Colonial, What’s Next for Museum Interpretation?“
Wellcome Collection
Evaluation Consultant for “What does it mean to be human now?”
I was commissioned by the Youth Programmes team to produce an internal report on their learnings and unlearnings over the course of this pandemic project. The report contained a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data reporting on teams within Wellcome Collection, as well as CYP (their partner). It also connected to Wellcome Trust’s wider DEI strategy.
National Portrait Gallery
Copywriting for social media
In June 2021, I was contracted by the National Portrait Gallery’s marketing team for copyrighting and scheduling content for their social media platforms. I had more success over on Instagram where I managed to gain over 39,000 likes.
2020
GEM Heritage
Anti-Racism in Practice Course Director
I conceived and coordinated their first CPD course of six workshops in this arena. These workshops focused on discussions around internal and external advocacy which centred BPOC communities, staff, and volunteers. I recruited speakers and facilitated discussions.
Culture Central
Co-Producer: West Midlands Weekender
I worked with Paige Jackson and Diandra McCalla where we co-produced the third Weekender. It was a digital festival which celebrated West Midlands’ young creatives from different mediums and different regions. We showcased 22 pieces, five of which were new commissions for this Weekender. There was live BSL, live-streamed, and pre-filed content. All hosted by Switch Radio presenter Ashlee Elizabeth-Lolo and BBC WM presenter Rakeem Omar. This project was an absolute dream to work on.
Wellcome Collection
Project Support Officer: RawMinds Poetry
Up until this project, I don’t think I’ve ever lol’d so much as I did with the young people on this programme. I was the Project Support Officer and helped with getting the show on the road and led the evaluation. The young people on this programme were great, they did a showcase (just before lockdown 1.0 hit) and did their own brilliant anthology too.
Aksana Khan 