In our next instalment of Meet the Team, we are excited to feature Susannah (Tap), Programmes Manager at Artis.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in the arts?

I was very lucky to have ballet, piano and violin lessons when I was younger. I found I most enjoyed it when my sister played piano and I could dance around the room! As a teenager, I was part of the dance team in my local guides and scouts gangshow which increased my confidence and provided me with a new community of friends. I went on to study Dance & Choreography at university and in more recent years have learnt lindy hop, Charleston and even some Argentine tango.

 What initially drew you to Artis, and how did you become a part of this organisation?

I had recently completed a year-long dance course and was looking for an opportunity to continue facilitating after having a taste of working with children in schools during the dance company tour.

I was a Creative Learning Specialist for 18 months before the vacancy came up to join the Artis Management Team – which provides the perfect mix of using my admin skills whilst working for this wonderful organisation.

What does a normal workday look like for you?

Every day is different, …although most days normally include a fair amount of emails!

Some days I am speaking to our partner schools about how the work our specialists are doing is going. Other days, I am planning the logistics of the next specialist CPD days. I keep an eye on our specialist capacity and plan the recruitment needed to ensure our schools programmes have all the specialists we require.

I also make sure our specialist are topped up with the all-important and coveted Artis stickers and certificates!

 What do you love most about your job at Artis?

I love hearing from specialists about the magic moments in their sessions, meeting with head teachers and hearing about the impact of our work in their schools and working with the amazing Artis family.

Looking towards the future, what are you looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to more of the above! Particularly as we grow the online in conjunction with our in person delivery work. It is exciting to think about how many children will be able to access the performing arts and learn creatively.