Project boss Emma has deep understanding of the area
Although she was born and brought up in Consett, Emma, 35, knows both Sunderland and South Tyneside well.
“I’ve been working in South Tyneside for the past few years and have got to know the area well.
“Many of my family members are from Sunderland, so I know the city well too,” she said. She graduated with a degree in English Literature from Newcastle University before starting work on the Aim Higher programme, which encouraged youngsters into further or higher education. Emma left the programme to spend a year travelling round the world. She started her career in the arts on her return, first of all working with well-respected outdoor event and festival company Event International,organisers of the Stockton International Riverside Festival, Newcastle’s Tall Ships Finale 2005, the Mouth of the Tyne Festival and numerous New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Between 2005 and 2008, Emma worked within the Performing Arts and Literature department at Arts Council North East.
She was seconded for a year to the Creative Partnerships programme, working out of the North Sands Business Centre, Sunderland, before then joining the team at the Customs House as a Cultural Development Officer.
She said: “After working for a few years on policy and strategy, I was keen to get more involved in the delivery of the arts, which is what I’ve been involved in ever since.”
Emma replaced Rebecca Ball as Project Director when Rebecca was appointed Director of Sunderland’s 2021 City of Culture bid last year.
Emma had been the Cultural Spring’s deputy director, and at the same time had been managing the cultural development team at the Customs House in South Shields.