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Title: Project co-ordinator, MADE

Name of Organisation: Midlands architecture and the designed environment (Currently part of RIBA West Midlands)

Address: RIBA West Midlands, Birmingham and Midland Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3SP

Phone: 0121 233 2321

Fax: 0121 233 4946

Email: julia.ellis@member.riba.org

How long in present post? Since June 2000

What does your organisation do?
MADE is a new, strategic, project-based regional centre engaged in a wide range of collaborative activities which aim to increase peoples? understanding and enjoyment of architecture and the designed environment.

What are your responsibilities?
Planning and organising MADE?s programme: lectures and debates, architects? and artists? projects including school residencies and exhibitions; local design statements and MADE news. I have also been very involved in MADE?s organisational development particularly securing resources for the programme.

Who did you used to work for and what did you do?
? Freelance consultancy and exhibition curation; this continues as the MADE work is part time. I?ve recently been a member of the research team for Birmingham?s bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2008.
? Head of Arts Development at Loughborough University School of Art and Design; developing a new exhibition gallery exhibitions and supporting research.
? Founder Director of Craftspace Touring: exhibition curating and directing the organisation to ensure its strategic growth as a touring exhibition service placing the contemporary crafts in new social historical and cultural contexts.

What do you enjoy most about your present post?
The positive response to MADE from the public and the professions, as well as working collaboratively to devise project ideas and then making them happen!

What do you least enjoy about your present post?
Keeping up with the endless but necessary stream of small administrative tasks.

What is your career ambition?
I?m working on this! It could be linked to planning or design, but making connections between cultural and built environments.

Who has influenced your career to date most - and why?
People I?ve met who pursue ideas and experimentation above politics, status and political correctness.

If you could have done any job in the world what would you like to have done?
Film maker - it may still be possible!

If you had three wishes for the future of the arts, what would they be?
? That people like me could afford to go regularly to the theatre and opera
? That the arts be the new shopping
? That all forms of ?arts speak? be strictly restricted to consenting professionals