Fertile Ground, which is dedicated to providing opportunities for emerging dance artists in the NE, appoints new staff members. The company was successful in gaining National Lottery Arts Council England funding earlier in 2017 which allowed it to reflect on its history and forge new routes ahead.
Part of that future planning is the role of Development Director and now Catherine Scott has been appointed to support the company in its development, including fundraising activity and partnership development.
“Catherine brings twelve years of skills and experience working in the Arts and Cultural sector,” said Dora Frankel, founder of the company, “and the board and I are delighted to have her as part of the growing team at Fertile Ground.”
“Fertile Ground is at an exciting point,” Catherine Scott said, “and I was drawn to the quality and ambition of the company.”
At the same time, two undergraduates join the company as interns from Northumbria University, funded by Santander and Fertile Ground. Nicole Malloy, a first year student, said, “I was over the moon to get the opportunity to work with Fertile Ground as their Social Media Officer. It’s an exciting placement and it is definitely broadening my knowledge and skills, particularly in the dance sector.”
Emily Gordon joins her as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator. This is not the first time Emily, who is in her fourth year at Northumbria University, has worked for Fertile Ground.
“I was in Nicole’s position in my second year as an intern with the company,” she said, “and I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to work with Dora and the team again.”
Fertile Ground’s mission is to make the North East “the place to dance—nurturing, challenging and inspiring a new generation of dance artists to develop and present inspirational and accessible dance for the people of the North; ultimately to aspire and inspire young people from across the region.”
It is led by Dora Frankel who has more than forty years’ experience in dance, working with Rambert, American Ballet Theatre and The Royal Swedish Ballet and has been working in the region for twenty. Its patrons are Lindsay Kemp and Wayne Sleep.