Helen is an experienced public art, public programme, curation and engagement professional with a background in Fine Art, and has worked in the Arts and Heritage sector across Yorkshire and the North East for the last two decades.
Helen’s work portfolio includes East Street Arts in Leeds 2020-2024 as Public Programme and Engagement Lead, managing national place-making programmes such as the High Street Heritage Action Zone funded by Historic England, and city-wide public art programme A City Less Grey. Previously, from 2016 – 2020 Helen was Head of Heritage, Engagement and Exhibitions at The Piece Hall, Halifax and part of the reopening team following a £19 million transformation project that included a 5-year closure. She also led the Heritage and Community Engagement programme for York Minster Revealed NLHF funded project at York Minster from 2012-2015.
Helen has delivered curation, programming and participation work at Yorkshire Sculpture Park with a focus on refugee communities and was a Trustee for National City of Sanctuary; a movement supporting people seeking sanctuary in towns and cities across the UK from 2014-2016. She has also worked delivering participation programmes for young people at The Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle Upon Tyne and South Asian Arts uk, Leeds.
Helen is passionate about diversity and widening participation in the arts and is a member of Black Curators Collective; a collective and forum for Black women and non-binary curators in the UK.