Meet our team: Lucy Palmer-Rimmer, Communication Officer

What does your role involve?

My role is split in two. Half of my role covers the day to day activities of an area communications officer and the other half of my role involves leading on the communications for our Northern Economy and Partnerships work. This includes advocating to partners, Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Combined Authorities about the importance of putting art and culture at the centre of their work. It’s important we highlight the positive impact this can have on their local economy, placemaking, education and skills and overall health and wellbeing of the local place and people.

Tell us one unusual or interesting thing about you.

I was one of the first heritage guides at the University of Manchester. I would give weekly tours on the university’s heritage around the campus to the general public. I really loved talking about the university’s history, making it come alive.

What’s your favourite memory of arts and culture?

From the age of six to 16 I was a member of the Youth Theatre at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. At the New Vic, the Youth theatre’s productions were performed on the same stage as the professional shows, which as a teenager felt like a big deal. I was completely captivated with acting and considered being an actor for many years. But I ended up being side-tracked by my love for politics and history.

What was your career like before you joined the Arts Council and what made you apply here?

I graduated from university with a degree in history and politics, with the plan to go into the heritage sector. Instead I went to work for the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, as communications assistant leading on their work for victims of crime. My role was absorbed into the Greater Manchester Combined Authority after the election of the Greater Manchester Metro Mayor. At the GMCA our comms team covered all areas of the Mayor’s and Combined Authority’s work, from running comms for the Mayor to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service to business and economy and their arts and culture work.

The reason I applied to the Arts Council was seeing a role I could use the knowledge that I developed working in local government – as well as to further my communications skills. I had become incredibly passionate about what Greater Manchester had to offer and was excited to have the opportunity to expand this work to advocate for the whole of the North. I’d always planned to move into the arts and culture sector, and this seemed a perfect fit for me! 

What’s the best thing about working here?

I think it’s seeing the transformative effect that art and culture really has on places and communities. I’ve loved going back home to Newcastle (Staffordshire) and seeing the positive impact that Arts Council funding is having on where I’ve come from, as well as the fantastic work we’re doing across the north!

What have you learned from working here?

The amount of amazing projects and organisations that the Arts Council support. It’s really opened my eyes to what’s on my doorstep as well as the rest of the North. I’m enjoying exploring what’s out there.

What do you want to do in the future?

I’m looking forward to seeing where our Northern Economy and Partnerships work takes us. I’m really excited to see how that work helps to transform not only the arts and culture sector in the north, but the north as a whole. There’s so much going on here.