One of the recurring debates about maintaining a career as an independent producer is how to develop a sustainable career, while another issue is how to retain independent producers in the performing arts. 

Katy Noakes will lead a workshop based on her experiences as an independent producer over several decades, which has led to a very diverse portfolio of projects, clients and experiences, and she continues to support independent artists and to make a significant contribution to the dance ecology of the South West. 

This workshop will be suitable for early-career producers seeking to learn about how to make their practice sustainable, as well as more experienced producers considering their longer-term career options. 

Producing dance performance and participatory projects under the ReStaged moniker, Katy Noakes is an arts professional of over twenty years’ standing.
An independent producer and project manager, Katy specialises in creating, developing, facilitating and producing dance works with engagement at their heart. Valuing inclusivity and audience development, Katy creates pathways and productions that build bridges between dance genres and audiences.

Recent and current contracts include:
Co-Producer, Dance Village at Bristol Harbour Festival;
South West Programmer, ADAD;
Project Manager, State of Emergency’s ‘Re-Position’ talent development programme;
Project Manager, Big Dance and Summer Reading Challenge, Pavilion Dance South West;
Evaluator, ‘Heart of Experience’, Creativity & Dementia project;
Consultancy, State of Emergency’s ‘Per-Mission aka Love and Sex’ Touring production and education programme;
Regional Co-ordinator, Rugby League World Cup 2013 Dance Programme;
Project Management and Development, Rise Youth Dance Company;
Producer, Neshima Dance Company;
Development and bid writing, 3rd Stage Dance Company;
Producer, ‘Beyond the Box’, public realm dance commission;
Creative Producer for Dance, Creative Ecology Wiltshire.

Katy is a former IDMN member, an accredited Arts Awards Advisor, and a member of PDSW’s partner steering group for Youth Dance, The Engine Room Regional Dance Partnership and Northern Arc Dance Partners steering group.