Whilst Adult Learning Officer at the National Portrait Gallery, I created, planned and managed the delivery of an ambitious adult learning programme. Over 12 months, the evening programme alone generated over 18,000 attendances.

Friday night Drop-in Drawing

I programmed daytime activities including weekly lunchtime lectures, tours, conferences, workshops and group visits. I was responsible for programming the regular Late Shift evening events, which happened every Thursday and Friday. Late Shift included a rich mix of high profile talks and debates, tours, drop-in drawing, life drawing classes, British Sign Language talks, DJ and bar.

Three times a year, I organised the larger Late Shift Extra evenings which attracted up to 2,800 visitors over 4 hours. Follow the links below to the NPG website to see full programmes, photos and films from these events:

• Inspired by the exhibition Lucian Freud Portraits, the Gallery was transformed into an art studio for Draw the Line which included life drawing classes led by Freud’s model Sophie de Stempel and another with Nicola Bateman, one of Freud’s muses, as the model.

• For Back to the Drawing Board, there were sessions with illustrators Marion Deuchars, Shirley Hughes and Clara Vulliamy,  and artist Stuart Pearson Wright created an exquisite stage set for a magical performance by the Tiger’s Bride.

• We paid homage to Man Ray, the original ‘Master of Light’ with Salon de Lumiere, which included a bespoke installation by Chris Levine.

• In response to the exhibition George Catlin: American Indian Portraits, conceptual artist Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds took over the Gallery to explore language and memory.

There is a collection of photos, films, programmes and trails from my time at the NPG available here…