Image : Exhibition Road
Photo: Annabelle Dalby
Exhibition Road in London is the product of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Built with the profits of this huge international exhibition, the area, originally known as Albertopolis was established as a place of culture and learning and is host to a series of World Class cultural organisations and Universities and Learned Societies. These twenty or so organisations began working together in 2002 towards a redevelopment of the area and increasing and sharing an active audience.
I worked for the partnership organisation for six years and during this time co-ordinated the establishment of the partnership as a charity, represented the group in it’s contribution to the 2012 London Olympics, worked on behalf of the Group towards with the local borough councils on the development of the Exhibition Road public space, developed a public art strategy and directed a series of annual public programmes including the annual Music Day and annual Cultural Quarters events.
This was a complex partnership with many strategic challenges, but I enjoyed working with this group of organisations very much and my experience has equipped me with excellent skills in partnership working and leading strategic programmes.
‘Ruth managed to make Exhibition Road Cultural Group, with all its complexities a huge success. Go see it for yourself, the Road rocks and so does Ruth. Any project any size’.
Sharon Ament, Director of Museum of London and former Chair of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group.
I am experienced at setting up and co-ordinating partnerships and collaborative working for organisations of all sizes. Aside from six years experience with the Exhibition Road Cultural Group*, I have developed partnerships and collaborative projects for the V&A Museum with the Goethe-Institut, People’s Palace Projects, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Abertay University, UK Interactive Entertainment (UKie), The Crafts Council, Royal Institute of British Architects, London Printworks Trust, London Print Studio, The Society of Scribes and Illuminators and have a broad understanding of how to set up and develop successful partnerships.
I worked with the London Mayor’s Office between 2007-2011 to establish and co-ordinate the pan-‐London partnership London Cultural Quarters towards the London 2012 Olympics. I am also experienced at working with corporate sponsors, both UK and international.
*Exhibition Road Cultural Group is a partnership organisation with the following members during 2005 – 11: Austrian Cultural Forum, English National Ballet, Goethe-Insistut London, Institut francais, Ismaili Centre, Imperial College London, Kensington Palace, Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music, Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, Royal Geographical Society, Royal Parks, Science Museum, Serpentine Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Westminster City Council