I am Alex, a consultant and facilitator for the cultural sector, currently on a creative sabbatical adventure, taking a journey into the unknown, and always open to exciting opportunities.

A values-led leader, I have managed learning, interpretation and exhibition programmes in museums and galleries for almost 25 years, including at the Sainsbury Centre at UEA in Norwich, the Royal Armouries in Leeds, Manchester Art Gallery and Sheffield Museums, and I have also undertaken freelance consultancy for a wide range of clients, both in the UK and internationally.

Most recently I was Head of Public Engagement, Curatorial and Collections for York Museums Trust, overseeing a lively programme of audience-focussed exhibitions, creative learning and participation activity, alongside holding responsibility for the diverse collections of York Art Gallery, the Yorkshire Museum and York Castle Museum.

I also have an academic background, recently as Programme Director for Creative and Cultural Industries Management at the University of Sheffield. My PhD (Sensory engagement with objects in art galleries: material interpretation and theological metaphor) is from the School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester, and was supervised by Dr Sandra Dudley and Professor Richard Sandell. I have undertaken object-based research in partnership with the National Museum Institute in New Delhi in India and spent time researching in Jaipur, Rajasthan and around Leh, Ladakh.

Particularly interested in workplace wellbeing, I am a Mentor and Professional Reviewer for the Museums Association’s AMA and instigated their ‘Sticks and Stones’ research on bullying in the sector. I am a co-founder of GLAM Cares, a support network for community engagement practitioners in galleries, libraries, archives and museums.

I always love to hear from people, so please do get in touch if you have a project you think I might be able to help you with, are interested in collaborating, or want to find out more about what a creative sabbatical journey looks like. I look forward to hearing from you.

Alex