Helen Goodman
- Title: Artist Development Co-ordinator
Helen would describe herself as a ‘creative producer’ in that she enjoys working collaboratively with artists and creatively designing projects together. She has a strategic brain and is an expert car-boot-packer. She was the first person in her family to go to university.
Helen initially trained at Bretton Hall College in Dramaturgy – learning skills that inform her producing practice today. She is a qualified teacher with a PGCE from University of Cambridge and has a Masters in Ensemble Theatre from Rose Bruford College. Helen was nominated for the Arts Foundation Fellowship Award (Emerging Producer category) 2014. She is a Clore Leadership fellow.
Helen was the Hull Independent Producer (HIPI) for Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and Absolutely Cultured, in association with Hull Truck Theatre, Hull University and City Arts. Working with companies such as Middle Child, Silent Uproar, Roaring Girls, Bellow Theatre and many more, the role provided ‘arms-length’ producer support to artists living and working in Hull, whilst driving performing arts sector development through a carefully curated programme of initiatives.
Helen was previously core producer for Clout Theatre and has worked in various project producer roles with organisations like RashDash, Forward Theatre Project, The Sand House at Cast, Manchester International Festival, SLAPyork amongst others. She was producer for French Choreographer Lola Maury for five years having met through The Place’s inaugural Hot House programme. Hot House aimed to enrich the foundations of the Producer/Choreographer relationship under the guidance of Dutch Dramaturg Peggy Olislaegers. She was part of the Surf the Wave programme with Pavilion Dance South West.
She now works with Artistic Director Adrian Kelly as Artistic Manager for Buxton International Festival - a 17 day feast of books, opera, music and jazz taking place in Buxton, situated in the heart of the peak district. She is responsible for the classical music programme and the production of five operas each year. She is currently producing a new talent development scheme for theatre, folk, spoken word and electronic music artists to make opera for the first time.
Since 2019, she has worked with Manchester Jazz Festival with Artistic Director Steve Mead, spearheading talent development programmes and commissioning new work in jazz and improvisation. She leads and facilitates projects with a focus on new music, carefully addressing barriers artists face, and developing support for artists based in the North of England.