Dear Friends of Hellion Trace,
I am excited to share the news that after a brilliant 4 years in post at the Barbican Theatre, Plymouth I am returning to my artistic practice.
I have had an extraordinary time in post as CEO and Artistic Director and can not express my gratitude to the Barbican Theatre’s board for their openness and willingness to support our brave vision for redeveloping the organisation over the last 4 years.
Our reputation in the city has changed dramatically:
Our youth training which was co-designed by Suzie West and I is having a huge impact on young people’s lives and is now being requested by youth centres and schools.
Our larger projects from Petrolheadz, Neon Romance, the Puppet Parades, Live and Local at the Lido and Future Undokai have all helped us reach new audiences, showcase the brilliant talent in Plymouth and create professional opportunities for creatives across the city.
It’s been a hard ride, starting 4 days before the first lockdown. I had hoped to step away with us back on a secure and buoyant financial footing, but that’s not entirely possible at this time in the economic landscape we are in. I am pleased to have secured the organisation 3 more years of Arts Council NPO and Esmee Fairbairn Funding and a continued pledge from the council. And am proud of the project funding I have secured across the 4 years from new funders to help us deliver on what we believe: building Plymouth’s creative voice and giving it a platform.
What the organisation needs now is a gardener. Someone who can help the team nurture and grow the roots of our strong, focussed and effective artist development and non siloed co-creation. That requires a different type of leader.
I am immensely proud of the organisation’s commitment to its values and all the work we have achieved both hyper locally and nationally.
It feels timely to submit this off the back of Barbican’s last big international collaboration and the hugely successful skills transfer into the city through the Plymouth Future Undokai and with the first tranche of funding secured for the River Plym Project. I am proud to have created new ways for Plymouth to find its creative voice.
If you would like to get in touch with me about creative projects, consultancy work or future commissions please contact me at laura@helliontrace.com.
What’s next?
Rather than hiding behind the wall of my company, I am going to use 2024, my 23rd year in the Creative Industries, to celebrate excelling in more than one thing.
If you would like to engage in with the work I’ve been making, what I’m thinking about and what excites me, and get sneaky insights into the big projects I am dreaming up then please come and join me over at Patreon – we won’t be leaning into a traditional newsletter going forward – so if you would like to sign up for updates, you can opt in to follow along with me over there.