INSTAGRAM: @in_the_moment______
My creative journey has always begun and returned to community. From an early age I found myself orbiting the Vietnamese community, lingering beside elders, chatting with local fruit vendors, naturally drawn to their stories. There was always an ache in me to honour their voices. I started by simply—serving bowls of phở at a local community centre, giving a manicure to older people and being an extra pair of hands at neighbourhood events—just to listen, to learn and be present. From this real relationship grew, and beautiful projects began to blossom with the people who I served.
This has become a core part of my approach; to truly breathe the same air and sincerely serve before anything else. That curiosity led me into the deeply fulfilling world of community engagement, which truly came into focus during my time at The Dukes in Lancaster, where I discovered my natural ability to connect and empower others. Since then, I’ve continued nurturing this passion through work in arts venues, theatres, museums, and now at Community Arts Northwest as Creative Director—still guided by the same heart that first set me on this path. The portfolio below represent my work as a community producer.
SEWING CIRCLE
The Dukes Theatre
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3-month programme of open, drop-in creative workshops at the theatre
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Community-designed and created large-scale banners (2)
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Participation in the national Women’s Suffrage Centenary march in Edinburgh
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Build genuine, lasting relationships between the theatre and local community
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Embed the local community into the theatre.
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Create a relaxed, welcoming space to support local creativity.
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Equip and train key members with in producing and project management.
ALL WOMENS
DANCE //
Partners: The Dukes Theatre, East Meets West [International women's group], Ongoing Nov 2018 - 2019
Project outline: To provide agency and ownership to the East meets west community group; by facilitating a culturally sensitive space for monthly all-women dance sessions, at the theatre.
Aims and objectives: To create a relaxed and culturally sensitive environment for women and children to be empowered through dance and movement. To continue building and strengthening existing relationships with this community and fostering deeper interest in theatre and performance. As a result, this led to further enquiries about our young people's programme from families within this community.
REFUGEE /
OPEN MIC NIGHT
Partners: The Dukes Theatre, Global Link [Refugee & Asylum seeker support organisation, June 2018]
Project outline: Facilitating a platform to showcase local talent from the Refugee/asylum-seeker community. Providing a safe and supportive environment for participants to explore creativity and expression.
Aims and objectives: To identify those potentially interested in theatre and performance. To provide creative opportunities in writing, devising and performance. To develop a creative language amongst the refugee and asylum seeker community. As a result of this programme; Ali Mogwali produced his first play Nanji', which debuted at the event.
HEADPHONE //
VERBATIM
Partners: The Dukes Theatre, Director Kristine Landon-Smith, funded by The Granada Foundation and Arts Council England, Feb 2018
Outline: working with renowned headphone verbatim director Kristine Landon-Smith to train and produce a show exploring education on a local and global level. Artists and community leaders are introduced to this accessible and effective tool for theatre-making.
Aims and objectives: To facilitate and deliver bilingual workshops in headphone verbatim. To identify and nurture performance leading to professional employment in the theatre To engage with artists of colour in the northwest and create work that reaches new audiences.
STILL I RISE
MANCHESTER//
Partners: The Travelling Heritage Bureau, Community Arts North, Manchester Art Gallery, The Dukes Theatre, Sept - Oct 2018
Outline: As Manchester marked the centenary of women’s suffrage, a powerful collective of international female artists came together to create a pop-up, interactive trail in the Manchester Art Gallery.
Aims and objectives: Assistant producing; liaise closely with artists and partners for planning and delivery. To facilitate a stimulating and enjoyable experience for participants. To strengthen and empower female artists and challenge the representation of diverse voices within National galleries.
LIGHT UP
LANCASTER//
Partners: The Dukes Theatre, Funded by Light up Lancaster, Nov 2018
Project outline: Through a series of artistic workshops, two highly skilled artists worked closely with the Chinese community of Lancaster and Morecambe to design and create a light sculpture reflecting the South East Asian identity. The outcome resulted in a sculpture called the 'Firemoon Dragon' made from recycled oil tins from local Chinese restaurants and silhouettes designed by the children.
Aims and objectives: To deepen existing relationships with the local Chinese community and encourage further engagement with the theatre's programme. To build and implement performance based work with the community.