Amy's 2021 Year in Review
2021: alot happened right? Thank god it’s over!
For me, it was a year full of ups, downs, changes, lockdowns, burnout, struggles, travels, successes and most importantly, a year full of reward. In that time, I’ve learned so many things about myself, how I want my creative business to feel, and what I want to change.
Anyone that knows me knows my work ethic is off the chart! A year of head down, hard graft has paid off in ways I had no idea about this time last year. I had an idea of where I wanted to be come now, where it ended is so much better. It has been lonely and draining at times, but that’s what makes success so much sweeter. The struggle is real, but it’s also the best part of the story.
This year I revisited my past experience in outdoor arts, community engagement & festival producing, dusting off my skills in that area along with continuing to develop my dance expertise focused on learning, participation & strategy.
So how was yours?
In summary, this year I:
Met my business financial earning target (and there’s still 1 quarter to go!)
Secured over £500k in public/private funding for various artists, organisations & projects
Secured £150k investment for Gareth Woodward’s Xzibit Young Creatives hip hop choreography project, expanding activities across the Midlands & now I’m leading on producing it until July 2022
Conceived, led on & delivered a brand new 3-day young peoples festival programme in North Lincs
Led & delivered 2 community engagement projects (inspired by EEA’s Recovery Poem & Luke Jerram’s Lullaby) as part of The Arches Worcester Festivals in July & October
Lead produced #TheRising (begins) festival test events, complete venue transformations & presenting new work also for The Arches Worcester Festivals in November
Throughout summer, co-led on strategic initiative; East Midlands Producing Collective - mapping dance sector needs, challenges & opportunities (watch this space for what’s next!)
Informed local freelance ecosystem support/infrastructure in Warwick District (via Spark & Creative Compact) throughout the year
Supported x4 artists/company R&D projects [Postpartum, The Imprisoned Moon, Improplay & For the Love of Stuff) throughout the year
Guest taught on the MA Dance Producing course at London Studio Centre
Won my own ACE DYCP funding to research strategic leadership & management in the arts
Mentored over 10 emerging artists, early career producers & creative business owners, some of which are now ongoing clients, working full-time in the arts, or in receipt of their DYCP own funding