Project Manager/Creative Facilitator/Farmer
US/NL/UK
Telephone: (UK) +44(0)798.566.1682
Web: http://www.thehirsel.com / http://www.highlandwool.scot
Email: info@thehirsel.com
Nationality/Languages: American (native) + Dutch (naturalized)
Profile
My love for the creative process is balanced by an ability to prioritize tasks and trouble-shoot problems, while keeping a clear sense of our long-term goals, and I can lead or support, depending on the needs of the project. My experience working with and without large budgets, and with people from many backgrounds and disciplines, makes me comfortable working in a wide variety of environments. The common theme in all my work as a ‘factotum’ is that I love helping clients and projects reach their maximum potential. My Myers Briggs profile is Counsellor INFJ. I’m legal to work in the USA, UK, and EU. Please note, though, that I’m currently only accepting projects that can be managed from my location at The Hirsel, the farm I manage with my husband in the Scottish Highlands, and prefer farm/rural themed assignments.
Experience Overview
I’ve offered project support from concept to opening night and beyond, working in the areas of film and theatre, the visual arts, and the community. I’ve participated in the creation or rehabilitation of multiple arts and community centres: as a member of City Lights Theatre Company (San Jose, CA), facilitating our move from a church basement to a re-purposed theatre space; as a founding member of Mobius Stageworks (San Jose, CA), a dance/theatre company which participated in turning an abandoned canning factory into a mixed use creative space; as Associate Producer and facility manager at Westbeth Theater Center in NYC (now Westbeth Entertainment, owner Arnold Engelman), and as the Manager of the ABC Treehouse in Amsterdam, NL
Selected projects:
2022 – present
Founding Director, Highland Wool CIC
I volunteer my time as general project manager of the Highland Wool project, and representing the project to the community. I’m also working ‘hands on’ in the processing until I can be replaced with paid staff. As a partner at The Hirsel farm, our host location, I’m responsible for ensuring that the two businesses can co-exist with each other in a symbiotic but separate fashion.
2015 – present
Partner / Farmer: Hirsel Enterprises – The Hirsel
The Hirsel is a small family farm located in the scenic Highlands of Scotland, which I manage with my husband/partner Donald Gillies. We’re rehabilitating this historic hill farm (which sat fallow for 30 year before we took it on), using regenerative, nature friendly techniques. We raise heritage breed sheep (Hebrideans) and pigs (Gloucestershire Old Spot), and chickens (Scottish Dumpy’s) and are developing a perennial garden and orchard.
Website: www.thehirsel.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHirsel
2014 – 2015
Founding Director, Inverkeithing Arts Initiative CIC, Inverkeithing Scotland
One of four founding directors of this Community Interest Company, which produced multiple community events in Inverkeithing, Fife.
2002 –2015
Artistic Director/Producer, Theaterworks Amsterdam, NL
This company focused on new and classical works of a socially or politically relevant nature, and worked with entertainment and teaching professionals from the Dutch and international English speaking community living in the Netherlands.
2006 –2011
Manager and Programmer, ABC Treehouse – Amsterdam, NL
The Treehouse was a cultural venue with 3 meeting/workshop rooms and a gallery program, serving Amsterdam’s Dutch and international business and arts communities. During my tenancy, I worked on professionalizing our services and operational procedures, and broadening the outreach into the community. I was responsible for program development, promotions, event management and hosting, booking and billing, facility management, staff and volunteer supervision. I also directed the art exhibition program – 50 exhibitions during my tenure, 16 of which I curated or co-curated.
1994-1999
Associate Producer and Venue Manager, Westbeth Theatre Center, New York City, USA
An 18,000 sq. ft. performance facility and production company with three stages, rehearsal facilities, and two full bars. Programming included “Showcase” and Off Broadway productions, cabarets, concerts and solo shows, as well as hosting Broadway-bound rehearsals and outside events. My responsibilities included: client management, on-site event and production management; scouting and booking projects; troubleshooting capacity, box office, and guest list issues; oversight of all aspects of the day-to-day operations; hiring, training and supervision of staff and volunteers; community outreach and problem solving; facility management. I also curated the New Works program, for which I was responsible for playwright and script development; coordination and direction of readings and workshop productions; search and hire of workshop teachers and directors.
1985-1987
Assistant to the Executive Producer, San Jose Repertory Company, California, USA
Regional (LORT) Theatre Company. Acting as the E.P.’s first full-time assistant, my tasks included scheduling, travel arrangements, correspondence, filing and phones; representing the organization at events and speaking engagements; and organizing and teaching classes for the annual “Arts in Education” project. While in this position I also served as the liaison to the board of directors and volunteer groups, as well as the special assistant on the ‘New Theatre Project”, a $14 million plan to design and build a company theater facility (which facility was successfully built by a subsequent administration). I also served as assistant to the Artistic Director on two mainstage productions.
Selected Education and Training
2015 First Aid at Work, Certificate, via St. Andrews First Aid
2010 & 2011 First Aid for businesses + AED (Certificate); MKB Cursus en Training BV, Amsterdam
2001-2002 Dutch as a 2nd language/Integration Course (Certificate Level 3.4); ROC, Amsterdam
1989 -1990 Wells Fargo Management Training Series, In-company, San Francisco Children’s
Council; time and management, employee supervision and review, active listening, problem solving.
1985 City of San Jose Grantees Workshop Series (for companies receiving city grants); Long range planning, fundraising, publicity
1976 – 1980 A.A. degree, San Jose City College, CA, Theater and Dance
The Hirsel 