An interview with our new trustees: Victoria Simmons and Linzi McLagan
We’re delighted to welcome two new members to our Board of Trustees. We asked Victoria and Linzi why they've chosen to join Shaper/Caper and what they're looking forward to getting stuck in to! Here’s what they had to say.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Victoria:
“I live just on the border between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, but was born in Perthshire and grew up in Orkney. I still really miss the sea and try and get to the coast as much as possible. I share my life with my two fab teenagers and two Siamese cats, and our household will be getting even more chaotic soon with the addition of a new puppy.
I work for the NHS commissioning body in Bradford District and Craven leading on communications and engagement activity across the breadth of health and care, operating flexibly in response to system pressures, managing and developing our team, and ensuring everything we do is shaped by shared insight about the lives and experiences of our population. It can be a hectic and pressured job but it's really rewarding.
My work is all about people and their stories; I see it as my job to build empathy between the ‘system’ and the people we serve. Developing dialogue with communities can help tackle inequalities and injustice: by ensuring that decision-makers and policy-shapers see the realities of people’s lives; and informing, inspiring, and inverting the power to act so that people can create change for themselves. I think this is a great connection with the Shaper/Caper Mission.”
Linzi:
“Well, I am currently Head of Education at YDance and a lecturer at Dundee and Angus College. Through these roles, I aim to support and develop the provision of dance in educational settings across Scotland. I believe learning experiences within the arts play a vital role in developing participants' capacities for critical thinking, creativity, imagination and innovation. My main interests over the last few years have been on the value of dance within general education and I am passionate and committed to ensuring that I assist, develop and support the development of dance in schools. I am aware of the national standards, complexities and challenges of working in dance education across Scotland with particular insight on the impact that COVID-19 has had on the delivery of dance within the education sector.”
Victoria Simmons
Linzi McLagan
Why Shaper/Caper?
Victoria:
“To be honest, mostly I just thought working with Shaper/Caper could be an awful lot of fun!
But more seriously, your mission and values matter to me. I believe in the transformative power of participation and the untapped potential for the arts to improve communities’ health and wellbeing.”
Linzi:
“As I am based in Dundee, I have followed and supported Shaper/Caper through various events and social media platforms. I admire your dedication to dance performance and the provision of innovative and interactive dance participation for all. As a result, I believe that Shaper/Caper plays an important role within the community of Dundee. I have even had the pleasure of working with your Artistic Director, Thomas Small, on various projects with national organisations as well as work for Shaper/Caper directly as part of their incredible team.”
And why now?
Victoria:
“I've been thinking about becoming a trustee for a while, and had previously considered some opportunities local to me but they hadn't felt quite right. Like a lot of people, working through the pandemic pushed me to think hard about what matters to me in my career, the difference I want to make, and how to enrich my life. I realised that I wanted to work alongside people and organisations that can spark my creativity and expand my perspective, so I have focused on arts and culture in my search and the Shaper/Caper opportunity was just the right thing at the right time. I’m also delighted at the idea of forging stronger links to home, in line with my long-term plan to move back to Scotland in a few years.”
Linzi:
“I feel incredibly lucky to have worked in roles where I can share my passion for dance, however, I am in a transition period where I am determined to expand my skills and experience of strategy and leadership. The opportunity to be part of Shaper/Caper’s Board of Trustees felt like the right move and I am delighted to be part of the Shaper/Caper team.”
What are you most excited about getting involved in with us?
Victoria:
“I’m not a trained dancer, but dance has been a thread throughout my life, from my tutu-wearing toddler days to teenage raves, from village hall Zumba classes to watching the Northern Ballet. It will be fascinating to gain more insight into the world of contemporary dance 'behind the scenes', and it might even motivate me to dance again!
I love Shaper/Caper's wide range of work; the exuberant humour, emotional and uplifting community projects, and stunning choreography that tells profoundly moving stories. It all makes my heart sing and I'm really excited to be able to support these projects more closely.”
Linzi:
“I hope to support Shaper/Caper expand on your innovative work within schools whilst further their understanding of the current climate of dance in educational settings.”
What are you hoping to bring to the team?
Victoria:
“My experience both in the voluntary and public sectors, as both funded and funder, gives me a great set of insights and relationships that will be an asset to Shaper/Caper. My career has been in communications and engagement, working with communities and creating positive change, and I hope that I'll be able to share these skills with the Shaper/Caper team. I'll bring a fresh perspective, as someone who is not immersed in the arts sector, and help the leadership team to develop a strategic approach that will see the organisation develop.”
Linzi:
“I thrive within the type of atmosphere where dance is viewed as creative, physical and intellectual, therefore, I am eager to be part of the conversation that can support and enhance Shaper/Caper’s outstanding reputation.”
And finally, if you could dance with absolutely anyone, who would you choose?
Victoria:
“Gene Kelly. Obviously! Specifically, I want to be Leslie Caron dancing along the Seine in An American in Paris.”
Linzi:
“Line dance with Dolly Parton, Dance It Out with Meredith Grey and/or whip out a legendary dance routine with Britney Spears!”
Thank you to Victoria and Linzi for sharing an insight into their lives and work with us. We’re really looking forward to making some magic together!