meet dick penny

Dick Penny backgroundMoved to Bristol in 1974 and has mainly lived in Bristol since then with brief periods living in the Wye Valley and London.Before working in the arts he worked as a builder, a computer programmer, a production controller in furniture manufacture and commercial vehicle building, and general manager of an industrial textile company.He has worked as manager, consultant and producer in the arts and creative industries since 1980. First role in the arts was as administrator with the Little Theatre Co from 1980-1983. This company was set up by a group of BOV actors and technicians to keep the Little alive as a professional venue. During this time he also learned how to build sets, operate lights and build relationships with audiences. The final show was Raymond Briggs' adaptation of his own book Protect and Survive which transfered to the Whitehall Theatre.Other arts work in Bristol includes:1986 to 1988 Associate Director for BOV working with Paul Unwin to develop programme and audience.1991 to 1993 Director of Watershed Media Centre 1998 and continuing Managing Director of Watershed Media Centre which was recently described by the DCMS Creative Economy Programme as 'a prime example of a highly connected, flexible, porous piece of cultural and creative infrastructure, of which there are too few examples. Watershed is more than just an arts cinema. It is at once a cultural centre, a business broker, a social networker, a research and innovation facility, a café/bar, and a cultural tourist attraction. Watershed brings world cinema to Bristol, projects Bristol's digital creativity to the world, and promotes innovation at the intersection of creative industries and technology through the recently launched iShed Community Interest CompanyHe has served on the boards of the Ashton Court Festival and Circomedia.He was an active member of Campaign for the Arts in Bristol and Avon.Arts Management and Consultancy projects include work for: Artspace (now Spike Island); Arts Council England; British Federation of Film Societies; British Film Institute; Cinema 100; Cornerhouse; Cumbernauld Theatre; Dundee Rep; First Light; Folly; Jazz Central; Jubilee Arts; Liverpool Everyman; Picture This; Royal Shakespeare Company; Scottish Film Council; TSW Film & TV Archive; Theatre Workshop; West Yorkshire Playhouse; and several projects as associate with Peter Boyden including The Boyden Report on Regional Theatre.As an independent theatre producer projects include: Frank McGuinness' Baglady with Sorcha Cusack, Edinburgh Fringe First and UK tour; Macbeth with Pete Postlethwaite BOV and UK tour; Scaramouche Jones again with Pete Postlethwaite Dublin Festival, BOV, UK tour, Riverside, Australia, New Zealand, Toronto and Ludlow.Still has a Ducati which he loves but it has not left the garage for years.Many years ago designed a house for a friend in the Brecon Beacons National Park and would love to build one himself from scratch one day. Can't sing a note and wishes he could.Main project: help make Bristol a more exciting, open and inter-connected place to live, work and play.