Title Co-manager
Name of organisation Mantle Community Arts,
How long in present post? nearly 3 years
Phone 01530 830811 Fax 01530 810231
Email clairemantlearts@btclick.com
What does your organisation do?
Mantle is committed to increasing access to the arts, through participatory projects in community groups and settings in NW Leicestershire and sometimes beyond.
What does your current job involve?
My post is a job-split, managing an independent, rural community arts organisation. I work also as a freelance artist, project leader and trainer.
My post involves:
? strategic planning of the organisation and programme of work
? making, developing and nurturing partnerships in all their various forms
? devising and managing projects - including fundraising, liaising with groups and artists
Who did you used to work for and what did you do?
I was Education and Outreach Officer at Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston for 5 years. Before this I worked as a freelance artist based at the Guildhall Centre in Grantham.
What do you enjoy most about your present post?
Dreaming up exciting project, taking arts activity into so many different environments, and developing long-term links with groups.
What do you find most difficult in your present post?
Needing more time and resources; and implementing projects in settings where participating in arts activity is not valued.
What is your career ambition?
I love what I do: planning projects, working with groups and working as an artist.
Who has influenced your career to date the most ? and why?
Many different wonderful, dynamic, quirky, calm, interesting, supportive, dedicated and inspirational people I?ve met.
If you could have done any job in the world, what would you like to have done?
Been involved in creating and making ?Bagpuss? and ?The Clangers?.
If you had three wishes for the future of the arts, what would they be?
? Wider integration of the arts into education, social care, housing etc.
? Participation to be better valued and understood
? More friendly, messy spaces and storerooms full of intriguing things