2023 Year in Review
As this year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year that has been both transformative and affirming. This was the year I embraced the title of 'Consultant', a role that has allowed me to collaborate, guide, and learn from an extraordinary array of clients and colleagues. That has been a goal for some years, in fact something I set out to achieve since I first went freelance. I feel immensely proud to have achieved it so soon into this work.
This year I’ve covered an extraordinary amount of miles: from Wakefield to Bristol, from Grimsby to Wales… I now need a new car! 🚘 and, not forgetting an unforgettable work trip to Genoa, Italy 🇮🇹 ✈️ to visit the World Para Dance Championships. Epic.
I also reached another goal: another £350k fundraised… now having raised over £1.5 million in ACE funds!! From supporting new and existing NPO’s or on the flip side, strategic transition work for those who have exited the portfolio, to project funded indie artist-led companies and new start-ups…. It’s all just been brilliant. Busy, but brilliant 💥
To each of you who entrusted me with your projects, dreams, and goals - from LYNNEBEC to Propel Dance, in Birmingham from Impelo in Powys, Flexus Dance Collective in Wolverhampton to Ascendance from Leeds, and to the many others including Wayne Sables Project from Yorkshire, Earth-bound from Leamington Spa, LOV in Lincolnshire, The Breaking League in Coventry, Concrete Youth in Hull, Creative Black Country, Grimsby Creates and beyond - thank you.
Your belief in with me, in my knowledge and skills, has been a privilege.
Mentions also go to Nottingham City Council Events & It’s In Nottingham, Mercurial Dance from Coventry, Next Door Dance from Nottingham, and all the inspiring institutions like Culture Central and More Than A Moment, who have all shaped not just my year, but also the landscape we are all trying change and thrive in.
To the educational pillars like:
University of Lincoln
University of East London
De Montfort University and,
London Studio Centre … your commitment to growth and learning is a beacon and I love guest speaking on your courses!
To the councils: Newark and Sherwood District Council (Open Doors NPO Programme), Gloucester Guildhall (City Council), South Kesteven District Council (Stamford & Guildhall Arts Centres) and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (Core Creatives), with whom I’ve had the pleasure of delivering training for/with and and/or chairing the NPO steering group, know your dedication to community and culture is admirable. I’m excited for this future with some of this work continuing in early 2024, under my consultancy services.
A shoutout must also go to China Plate, University of Warwick, Louth Playgoers: Riverhead Theatre, Bobak Champion, Institute of Contemporary Theatre and Far From The Norm,with whom I’ve done various pieces of work from training, speaking to teaching and contributing to research. Plus every single one of my access support clients, too many to name otherwise this post would be 10 pages long - your diversity, vision, tenacity and passion are what make this journey so enriching.
And finally, to the incredible individuals that I've had the pleasure of mentoring, past and present; watching your growth has been one of the most rewarding experiences of what I get to do daily, doing this work and supporting you 🖤:
Natalie Haslam
Abbi Thompson
Scott Peacock
Lizzie Palmer
Sekia Blye
Jordan Sheard
Laura Savage
Hal Mayer
Ro De La Monja
I am proud of everything and as I look forward to 2024, I carry with me not just the memories of a year well spent but the lessons, friendships, and connections that will continue to inspire and achieve great things. Here's to another year of collaboration, creativity, and community. Let’s get it.
These quotes from clients say it all…
“Thanks for basically being simply incredible.”
“I’ve been on a lot of training courses, one day trainings, and just been shoved with information and handouts, which I never read. And the whole day has been one long slog, like oh, my God, listen to the office again. And I think this has been refreshing in the sense that we’re talking with real people, real artists, and people who understand because they feel the same, we all do the same thing in different ways. So it’s not by listening to an expert who thinks they know it all. But analysing what you do, and how you can better yourself has been refreshing and not being told, you know, here’s a handout…”
If you’d like to work together in 2024, I have availability from April onwards.
Email me on hello@amydaltonhardy.co.uk and lets chat!