who we are

While studying for a PhD in contemporary European film, Emma began her career in 2004 at Cornerhouse in Manchester producing the higher education programme for the 2005 !Viva! Spanish and Latin American Film Festival.

Upon completion of her PhD Emma returned to Cornerhouse as Engagement Manager before moving to MK Gallery in 2010 as Head of Learning. In both roles Emma held strategic responsibility for education and participation programmes across film and visual arts. During her time at MK Gallery, she produced a number of large-scale projects and commissions including a long-term collaboration with Project Art Works engaging young people and adults in Milton Keynes with profound neurological impairment and complex needs via a programme of research, staff training, arts encounters and exhibition. 

In 2014, not long after becoming a mum for the first time, Emma moved back to the north west as a freelancer where she began working with the Contemporary Visual Arts Network North West. From 2014 to 2016 she managed the network’s first cross-regional, multi-partnership project recruiting over 30 partners to co-produce programmes of work across critical writing, artist professional development and young people. From 2014 to early 2019, she also co-managed the North West regional network holding responsibility for all key areas including communications, finance, evaluation, and programme with a focus on partnerships and professional development. 

Between 2016 and 2021 Emma worked for Heart of Glass in St Helens, the national agency for social and collaborative practice. Initially as Prototype Projects Producer, Emma delivered a programme of work to support the professional development needs of local artists through micro-commissions, workshops, and mentoring. Later, in her role as Criticality Producer, Emma managed a programme of research, writing and talent development to build critical pedagogy in the field of collaborative and social arts practice. This included The Faculty – an alternative multi-disciplinary arts school for those engaged in social arts practice, and With For About – Heart of Glass’ annual conference.

Since the beginning of 2022 Emma has focused solely on FS Creative. During this time, she has worked with Shelley across various projects with a focus on project management, creative producing and most recently evaluation. 

On graduating from the London College of Printing in 1993 with a Higher National Diploma in Journalism and Business Studies (Distinction), Shelley embarked upon a career in communications and public relations, working for private and public sector organisations across the South, including Royal Mail.

In 1997 she moved up North and expanded her career portfolio into marketing working for over ten years in brand management for Schwan’s UK Ltd. After the birth of her second child, she decided that this role didn’t support life with two young children, and took a short break to concentrate on being a full-time mum. In 2008 Shelley joined Lancashire Museums as Marketing Coordinator, where she developed an audience focussed communication strategy and revenue driven programme for landmark heritage sites across Lancashire. It was Shelley’s love for this role in heritage and culture that she decided to embark upon a freelance career in the arts.

In 2011, Shelley began a freelance role as Network Manager with the Contemporary Visual Arts Network North West (CVAN NW), managing regional networks across Lancashire, Manchester and Liverpool; holding responsibility for a number of key areas including communications, finance, evaluation and programming, with a particular focus on partnerships and professional development. In 2014-2016 she worked with Emma to deliver the network’s first cross-regional, multi-partnership project recruiting over 30 partners to co-produce programmes of work across critical writing, artist professional development and young people. 

Alongside her work with CVAN North West, from 2017-19 Shelley worked with the Whittingham Lives Association as a freelance marketing and public relations consultant developing and delivering a communications strategy for a two-year community heritage and arts project which sought to stimulate debate about mental health and mental health care by looking at the archives and history of Whittingham Asylum, Preston. She was recommissioned in 2019-21 to lead on the redevelopment of their website undertaken with a cooperative at the University of Central Lancashire. 

In 2020 during Covid, Shelley worked with Green Close on a visual art mental health and wellbeing programme funded by Arts Council England’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund, to develop a marketing and communications strategy for The Phoenix Project, that provided a range of free online and interactive workshops accessible to people from home who were isolated by the pandemic. From September 2023 to March 2024, she worked with Green Close and the Phoenix Rising Partnership as Project Manager to support the delivery of a Heritage, Health and Wellbeing programme as part of the Kirkham Futures high street regeneration project, led by Fylde Borough Council and funded by Historic England. In September 2024 Shelley was recommissioned by Green Close to work with them again in Kirkham on a second iteration of the programme.