Kath has worked extensively across the cultural sector in the UK devising, implementing and leading an impressive range of high profile capital and revenue fundraising campaigns. Most recently for the Halle Orchestra, completing 2 phases of the Halle St Peter’s project in Ancoats, Manchester which was initially a heritage focussed project restoring a deconsecrated, derelict church into a light, airy and high tech rehearsal space for the Orchestra. The second phase created a state of the art extension which includes an additional rehearsal and performance space, education facilities, warm up rooms and a café and bar and home to the orchestra’s many youth ensembles. The Oglesby Centre at Halle St Peter’s has won numerous awards since opening in November 2019.
Kath also led a 3 year capital fundraising campaign to deliver a wholesale refurbishment of Leeds Playhouse which reopened in October 2019 with a new studio space, extended capacity in the two original auditoria and a complete reorganisation front of house. Ultimately delivering a more accessible, friendlier, and more flexible public space with increase capacity to earn commercial income from a new restaurant and additional café spaces.
Kath also worked on the Shakespeare North Playhouse project in Knowsley, Liverpool a new build project in one of the most deprived regions in England recently further devastated by particularly high Covid-19 infections. A project heavily funded by the public sector and with a difficult beginning the fundraising strategy needed reworking because of the Covid pandemic and disruption caused to traditional private sources of funding. The strategy was effectively flexed and solutions found, including revising timelines and priorities to maintain momentum during the unprecedented challenges of 2020-2022.
Kath has worked in Director roles – overseeing fundraising but also sitting as part of the Senior Management Team of many cultural organisations including: The Halle, Leeds Playhouse, FACT: Liverpool, Psappha Ltd and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
On a freelance, project focussed basis Kath has worked at The Ulster Orchestra Belfast, The Royal Exchange Theatre, Greenwich Dance, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Team Oasis Children’s Centre, The Whitworth Art Gallery, London String Quartet Foundation, Cinema City (Norwich), Birmingham Rep, Leeds International Piano Competition, Transform Leeds, Shakespeare North Playhouse, HOME Manchester and Manchester International Festival.
Kath has worked internationally with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has been engaged in a number of projects working with partner organisations in Germany.