Kate has worked in the public and charitable cultural and charitable sector all her career, initially as an actor and director in theatre, arts in education and community arts and then a programmer of theatre, dance and literature. As a member of the arts funding system, she was Drama Officer and Director of Performing and Combined Arts at West Midlands Arts, during the heady days of the expansion of Lottery Funding and worked on capital, stabilisation and international policy programmes (1996-2003). From 2007 to 2015, amongst a portfolio of freelance work in arts management, policy and higher education teaching, she has been Arts Adviser to the Baring Foundation with a focus on their programme supporting the development of arts by for and with older people and their previous programme supporting arts with and by refugees and asylum seekers.

Having trained in Facilitation and Coaching she supported the Sing Up programme from 2007-11 and worked with Creative Partnerships reas providing interim management and organisation development support.

She is in demand as an evaluator of arts projects from national programmes such as Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places to individual events and projects such as the inaugural photographic exhibition at the Library of Birmingham and the inspiring theatre project with primary aged children in the Black Country – The Children Who Became Producers – a Little Earthquake production in 2016. 

Apart from professional engagements, Kate has considerable experience of supporting the arts in a voluntary capacity:

Non-Executive Board memberships, trusteeships and advisory roles: 

• Former Chair of Feeney Trust Trustees, making grants for new arts commissions and projects in Birmingham

• Member of Churchill Fellowships Advisory Council

• Vice Chair of Chamberlain Highbury Trust

• Former Chair of Black Country Touring and Pentabus Theatre

• Former Member of Warwick Arts Centre’s advisory board 2008-18 (standing committee of University of Warwick)

In 2016 she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel in Japan and research its cultural responses to the ageing society.

An international perspective to her work has been important throughout her career – and, as an occasional visiting lecturer at Warwick University, she encounters a wide range of the next generations of arts managers from all over the world.

Personal interests:

Riding horses, walking, history, singing and travelling.

Favourite personal achievements: riding a horse across Scotland and singing backing vocals for Barry Manilow!

Kate Organ

Email: kate@kateorgan.com

Twitter: kate_organ

LinkedIn: Kate Organ 

Kate is based in South Birmingham, but works all over the country and beyond if the need arises!