Community participants showing their creations at Harbour Fest

General Manager & Fundraising Consultant:

Handpicked Productions

Handpicked Productions is a community-focused multi-arts organisation based in Cleator Moor, West Cumbria. We create high-quality, inclusive creative opportunities where they are most needed, removing barriers of cost, geography and confidence.

I began working with Handpicked Productions in 2021 as Co-Producer of The Promise, a new outdoor opera for families based on the award-winning book by Nicola Davies, directed by Lucy Bradley and composed by Daniel Saleeb. As Co-Producer, I worked across fundraising, planning, partnership development and project delivery, helping to commission, develop and tour the work. Over three years, I led fundraising activity that secured more than £190,000 through Arts Council England, Trusts & Foundations, Local Authorities and individual supporters.

Since 2023, I have continued my relationship with Handpicked Productions as General Manager & Fundraising Consultant, supporting the company’s strategic development, organisational planning and fundraising activity. My work includes financial oversight, business planning, governance support, bid writing and helping to build the organisational infrastructure needed to support future artistic ambitions. During this period, I have played a key role in securing multiple >£30k Arts Council England project grants, Heritage Lottery and local authority funding, plus multi-year grants from a range of Trusts and Foundations, supporting both our artistic activity and organisational resilience.

Handpicked's commitment to creating imaginative, accessible work for local families aligns closely with my own belief that high-quality artistic experiences should be available to everyone.

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