Mel Larsen has worked in the arts, culture and heritage across the UK and abroad for over 20 years. For the past 7 years, she has also worked as a small Business Coach and Facilitator.
Mel’s early career included working as Manager/Administrator for pioneering touring company Black Mime Theatre (BMT) and as Marketing Officer for Talawa Theatre Company. She then joined the A.R.T.S. consultancy firm as a full-time consultant. There she conducted feasibility research for several audience development agencies and for new building and refurbishment projects including the landmark Peckham Library.
As an independent consultant since 1999, her clients have included Arts Council England, The Arts Marketing Association, The Australian Arts Council, Creative New Zealand, CARIFORUM, Audiences Central, MLA London, The National Trust, English Heritage and The British Council, Winchester Council and Lambeth Council.
National & International Work
Her training, speaking and consultancy work has taken her to many different parts of the world including, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, The Caribbean, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
In the UK Mel has worked on the Arts Council England’s groundbreaking, ‘Not for the Likes of You’ project as part of the Morton Smyth Associates team. She is author of A Practical Guide to working with Arts Ambassadors published in 2003 by Arts Council England. She has guided the set-up of arts ambassador programmes for Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Vara Konserthus on behalf of StillArt Sweden and in the UK for the London Symphony Orchestra and The National Trust.
Business coaching
Mel takes on private coaching clients as ‘The Dream Project Coach’. She is a qualified Coach and NLP Practitioner. Learn more about Dream Project Coach…
Community Contribution
Mel founded the community-led annual Streatham Festival and was Artistic Director for 5 years, for which she received a Lambeth Civic Award in 2007. She was also Director of the first Streatham Food Festival in 2009 and was Founder/Director of the annual festival, The Little Big Peace Event in Streatham for 8 years.
A diverse portfolio of clients
From small galleries and local authorities to national Museums, Theatres & Agencies.
- Africa Beyond
- Arts Council England
- Arts Council West Midlands
- Audiences Central
- Audiences London
- Arts Marketing Association
- The Australian Arts Council
- Bizas Coaching & Consulting
- The British Council
- CARIFORUM
- Catherine Rushforth & Associates
- Crafts Council
- Creative New Zealand
- Cultivate
- Film and Video Umbrella
- MLA London
- Museum of London
- The National Trust
- PreVista
- The Royal Opera House Creative Partnership
- Spread the Word
- StillArt, Sweden
- Streatham Town Centre
- London Borough of Lambeth
- Tamasha Theatre Company
- Winchester Museums
- 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning