Martha Toogood is a freelance Arts Education Consultant and project co-ordinator. Previously, the Arts Education Co-ordinator for Derby City Council, a strategic local authority post that sought to promote, develop and deliver arts education and learning. Currently her work involves developing cultural education opportunities for the education sector in Nottingham City; brokering partnerships between the best artists and arts organisations and children and young people’s settings, she sets up cultural education training programmes, networks, conferences and city wide projects.
Martha has worked with Red Earth Theatre Company Board of Trustees for ten years on a number of highly successful productions and theatre based projects in learning settings and professional theatre venues. She has supported the company to gain funding and status as an Arts Council England NPO and is Chair of the Board. Her experience as the Development Manager for the arts centre The Old Library and the touring theatre company New Perspective has enabled her to understand need and demands for cultural organisations to be robust and resilient. Martha is passionate about giving all children and young people access to high quality experiences of the arts; her work enables young people to become confident creators, enthusiastic participants and critical consumers of culture.
Martha trained and worked as a drama teacher, drama workshop leader and producer/director of youth theatres, including shows internationally and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is leading an advisory board for Flying High Expressive Arts Company – a youth theatre and dance company – to gain charitable status and is currently working closely with the RSC and inner city Nottingham schools.
