Frances Downie has been a senior professional working in the visual arts, public art and architecture for 20 years. Her work has been split between organisational development roles and policy and strategy development for Local Authorities and RDAs.

Previously, as Director of two small arts organisations, Shape East and the Design Initiative she was responsible for developing, managing and often hands-on delivery of the programme and the finances to deliver.

She has been active in developing strategy and commissioning but is also concerned with education and capacity building and has set up programmes such as Board retreats, learning workshops, conferences and education programmes.

In all roles she has taken the lead in developing partnerships and networks of unlike organisations to participate in projects and has developed the contractual arrangements to underpin those relationships. Whilst her background is in the visual arts and design she has always worked in an interdisciplinary and multi disciplinary fashion and nearly always in the public realm or in formal and informal spaces.

Frances has also developed creative projects for non arts organisations (a Regeneration Agency and a University).

Frances has worked on a wide range of Working pArts’ projects including Creativity in the Coalfields, Liverpool Ropewalks, Landmark Wales, Milton Keynes and Northstowe.