2004 – 2017
We Are London
13-year programme of theatre, filmmaking and visual arts for young migrants and non-migrants across London.
Portfolio
Work & Projects
30 years of participatory arts, community engagement, and creative facilitation across London, Manchester, and beyond.
"Understanding myself has helped me to be a better facilitator. When I facilitate I bring my personality, my politics, my ethics, my strengths and my vulnerabilities with me."
Featured Project
2023 – 2024
Breaking the Code
University of Manchester
Participatory Action Research with refugee artists exploring structural exclusion in the cultural sector. The project culminated in a co-created Zine engaging arts organisations in dialogue about systemic barriers.
Download Report"Often the facilitator has more agency, greater freedom, better health and well-being, more stability, a safer life, and so on, than the participants. I believe it's important to recognise and understand how these privileges affect the power dynamic."
2013
—
2017
Brixton House
The Paper Project
A collective of young migrant artists
Creating cross-arts, immersive performances and running workshops for young people and arts professionals.
Featured in BBC documentary, The Paper Project brought together young people from migrant backgrounds to share their stories through theatre, visual arts, and digital media.
4
Years
50+
Artists
BBC
Featured
"I am struck by the responsibility we have, as practitioners working with people who've experienced forced migration, to ensure their experiences on our projects contrast with and take account of their experiences of injustice, including the injustices of the asylum system."
Portfolio
More Projects
Selected work from three decades of practice • Click to explore
2017 – 2018
Stranger Tales
Verbatim theatre at Southbank Centre exploring Brexit's impact on migration. Photo: Candice Purwin
2017 – 2018
idle women
Artist residency on a narrow boat exploring women's histories and waterways.
2019 – 2023
Lift the Ban
Campaign events with Refugee Action advocating for the right to work for people seeking asylum.
2023 – 2024
The Great British Welcome
UNHCR photography project documenting refugee experiences in Manchester.
2023
Force of Nature
Climate justice project with Global South artists.
2010 – 2013
Platforma Festival
Partnership with Counterpoints Arts in national arts and migration festival.
2004
Belongings Conference
First UK youth-led refugee conference.
Leadership Experience
Senior roles in arts organisations
2019 – 2023
Creative Director & Joint CEO
Community Arts North West
Strategic and creative lead of Manchester arts charity. Led organisation through pandemic, established artists training programme, secured NPO funding.
2004 – 2017
Director of Participation
Brixton House (formerly Ovalhouse)
Led participation in leading London fringe theatre. Established The Paper Project, brokered British Council South Africa partnership.
1992 – 2004
Programme Lead & Acting Artistic Director
GLYPT (Now Tramshed)
Led Community Theatre Access Course and Voices project for young refugees. Founding member of Refugee and the Arts Initiative.
"I've worked in a lot of situations where there isn't enough time set aside for evaluation and reflection. I find this very difficult, because I believe that we don't learn from experience, but by reflecting on experience."
Publications
Resources & Downloads
Essays, reports and documentation from three decades of practice
Let's Create Together
Available for consultancy, facilitation, training, and creative partnerships.