Cassie Catchpole
Brightlingsea, GB
Bio
I am an independent contemporary performance and outdoor arts producer, with 10 years experience working in the arts industry. My work centres on making art accessible in as many contexts as possible, which reflects my core value that culture should be freely and easily available to everyone. As a contemporary performance producer, I work with independent artists as well as organisations including regional theatres and international theatre companies. Recently I’ve worked with award-winning contemporary performance artist Louise Orwin, internationally acclaimed physical theatre company Gecko and international theatre makers, Good Chance. I work in traditional venues as well as site- specific non-traditional spaces (caravans, shop fronts, community spaces etc) to create opportunities to engage with culture. As well as contemporary performance, I’m passionate about outdoor arts, which I believe to be one of the most accessible forms of culture, providing valuable experiences in the heart of communities. For the last 3 years I have independently produced an outdoor arts festival called Fresh Air Festival, curating a programme of international, national and regional artists all showcasing the best of street theatre. I also worked for Arts Council England as a Touring Relationship Manager in the South East for 4 years until April 2024.
Bio
I am an independent contemporary performance and outdoor arts producer, with 10 years experience working in the arts industry. My work centres on making art accessible in as many contexts as possible, which reflects my core value that culture should be freely and easily available to everyone. As a contemporary performance producer, I work with independent artists as well as organisations including regional theatres and international theatre companies. Recently I’ve worked with award-winning contemporary performance artist Louise Orwin, internationally acclaimed physical theatre company Gecko and international theatre makers, Good Chance. I work in traditional venues as well as site- specific non-traditional spaces (caravans, shop fronts, community spaces etc) to create opportunities to engage with culture. As well as contemporary performance, I’m passionate about outdoor arts, which I believe to be one of the most accessible forms of culture, providing valuable experiences in the heart of communities. For the last 3 years I have independently produced an outdoor arts festival called Fresh Air Festival, curating a programme of international, national and regional artists all showcasing the best of street theatre. I also worked for Arts Council England as a Touring Relationship Manager in the South East for 4 years until April 2024.
Producing Practice
I have a very broad interest in performance and am often working simultaneously on multiple projects which have entirely different approaches, audiences and aesthetics.
However my core value of access unites everything I choose to do. I want to improve access to culture, and to culture making, for those who face any kind of intersectional oppression. Whether that’s the message of the work itself, or a function of generating opportunities to engage where few existed beforehand, my work needs to be doing something progressive in the world in order to sustain my interest.
As a producer working with artists, I’m very artist-led, which means that I am guided by the artist and their needs to make their best work, holding access, both for artists and participants, in the centre of the project. This way of working allows artists to be involved where they want to and step back where they need to.
Areas of Expertise
Project development
Supporting practitioners
Project funding
Project delivery
Supporting artists/organisations realise their project
Contracting
Partner development
Logistics
Performance event management
Safeguarding
Licensing
Tour booking
Project championing
Collaboration Interests
As a producer I’m interested in working with partners who share my values, who want to create out of the ordinary experiences and who have drive and vision for their practice. This includes independent artists as well as organisations.
I’m keen to work with county, district and city councils who are looking to develop their offer of arts within their public realm. In 2023 I worked with Chelmsford City Council to open a new space of public realm celebrating the site completion whilst showcasing the potential with 2 street theatre festivals with acts from across the UK.
I’m also interested in developing my international networks to support bringing UK based artists to international events.
I’m also an access support worker for Arts Council England so can help write Project Grants or Developing Your Creative Practice grant applications for artists/organisations who face barriers to apply.
