IntroducingFelicityClark,DirectororMembershipStrategyandSupport
Last month, Felicity Clark joined us as Director of Membership Strategy and Support. Read her blog below on the work she’s begun, and what she wants to do next.
I’m proud to have joined such an important organisation. Over the last few weeks I’ve been finding out how we can best support you by working on two key priorities: getting to know our members, and reviewing our membership proposition. This work is part of a wider picture I’m developing – and I will need your help to understand what you need from us.
There’s plenty already happening over the summer to get involved with. Our online workshop on collaborative feedback is a valuable chance to bolster your experience with the sort of structured training that's rarely offered to freelancers, and Havana Marking’s upcoming masterclass on bringing drama into documentary will be an inspiring session for documentary directors. Meanwhile, for drama directors in Scotland, there’s a couple of fantastic opportunities currently open on Counsels and Vigil.
Since starting, I’ve been able to experience some of our member offering firsthand, and I’ve already been able to chat with Directors UK members up in Sheffield at a Directors UK-sponsored Children’s Media Conference panel, and at our recent screening of Grenfell: Uncovered, which was followed by director Olaide Sadiq in conversation with Toby Trackman.
I’ve met members working across all genres, from all backgrounds, working in different regions, and at varied stages of their careers, and what immediately stands out to me is the expertise and the undimmed passion for the craft within the Directors UK community. That comes through in the conversations I’ve had with you, the programmes you create, and even the excellent member-hosted podcasts I’ve been listening to (check out the TV Makers podcast, The Directors’ Take, The Filmmakers Podcast and of course the Directors UK Podcast if you haven’t already!)
I’ll be at our upcoming Member Meeting in September, which you can book onto here. Please do say hi if you’re attending; and if you aren’t, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected] - I would love to hear your thoughts on your Directors UK membership.