About The Touring Network
Our network is made up os a diverse mix of people and organisations from volunteer promoters, village hall committees, pub landlords, school teachers, and professional programmers, to theatre makers and producers, dance artists, musicians, agents and about-to-hit-the-road performers.
Our members’ venues are scattered across a region which covers half the land mass of Scotland, stretching from Shetland to Campbeltown, and our performer members are both situated in and out of this region. Whilst we are geographically spread – we are a network closely connected by our cohesive vision for better access to remarkable live performances across rural Scotland.
Connect
We provide a forum for promoters across the Highlands & Islands to connect and network, sharing knowledge, skills and resources. We develop relationships between promoters, performers and communities, to make performances vibrant and fulfilling experiences for everyone.
Represent
We work on behalf of our members and alongside partner organisations to strengthen and support the rural touring ecology as a whole and and to ensure that touring and promoting remain accessible and relevant to all.
Support
We provide help, advice and training for those involved in putting on professional performing arts events in small-scale venues. Whether you are putting on your first ever show or have been running events for years, we are here to provide help and support.
Programme
We are committed to bringing live performances of the highest quality to all areas of the Highlands and Islands. Through our Supported Programme we are able to support performances in under-represented geographic areas and genres.
VISION
Every Scottish community, however small, has an essential and vibrant cultural life; one that is locally rooted, nationaly supported and internationally recognised..
MISSION
To inspire and enable those who deliver remarkable performances in rural and island communities – connecting people and transforming places.
AIMS
Grow a strong, diverse and well informed membership and encourage a ‘learning and sharing’ network culture
Support the development and touring of all genres of high quality live performance within the Highlands and Islands region
Connect audiences to high quality live performance in the region
Connect, communicate and inform the activities, needs and outcomes of our members to the sector and beyond.
Increase organisational resilience
Who We Are
The Touring Network is managed by a strong core team made up of full-time Chief Executive Officer, part-time Operations Manager and part-time Marketing Manager. We’re also supported by a part-time Freelance Membership Administrator.
Jo McLean
Chief Executive Officer
Before joining the Touring Network team in August 2015 Jo (a former classical musician) worked as a consultant and producer across Scotland and internationally, commissioning small and large scale works across a wide range of art forms. As well as a passion for the performing arts, she brings strong leadership skills, and a solid grasp of organisational governance to the role. Jo is a Saltire Fellow having taken part in Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Saltire Fellowship during 2018/19, where the focus was on leadership with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Rhiannon McIntyre
Operations Manager
Rhiannon joined the team in 2013 as Membership Officer (Highlands), and since then has been involved in many of the Touring Network’s projects and services, including Supported Touring, Go See, Tourbook, Epic Stage, the Gathering, GET IN, and of course, membership support and development. As Operations Manager, she is responsible for the planning, direction and coordination of all projects and services, managing the team to deliver these effectively across the Network.
Claire Mackay
Marketing Manager
Before joining the team in August 2017, Claire was involved in the music industry – Artist development via management and running micro label Hits The Fan Records. She released Frightened Rabbit’s debut album in 2006, then had a 7 year hiatus project managing in the tourism sector, before returning to the music industry to release and develop now award-winning artist Kathryn Joseph (who toured with The Touring Network as a performer on the inaugural GET IN tour). Claire brings strong campaign management, experience of multi-channel communications and a passion for supporting others in their own marketing activities!
BRONWEN NIXON
Membership Administrator
Bronwen is our Membership Administrator – making sure that all our rural members are kept connected and cared for. Before she started with us in April 2019 she was involved with a range of multi-art event and festival production teams across the UK. She co-founded two successful event production companies during University; Only Skin Theatre and Stomping Ground Events, both of which focused on providing a platform for emerging artists. She’s also been working in education with the Soundsystems youth project since 2017, providing accessible music workshops to children across Scotland. Her academic research highlighted the importance of artistic spaces as an integral part of society and community development.
how we operate
We care about the environment and work in ways which help to minimise our carbon footprint; we are a paperless, digital first organisation which operates a remote working model – reducing office overheads and the impact of daily commuting for staff. We calculate our carbon omissions and work with our partner, Trees for Life to offset our environmental impact.
If you are touring in the Highlands and Islands and want to know how you can help offset your impact please get in touch.
ASSOCIATES & CONTRACTORS
The core team is currently supported by the following associates and contractors:
Finance
BRAW
Kate Wieteska
Current Board
- Christine Hamilton (Chair)
- Alasdair Wright, West Coast Arts
- Simon Hart, Puppet Animation Scotland
- Kenny Taylor, Resolis Community Arts
- Liz Taylor, HR Consultant
- Joseph Peach, Musician
- Rhona Dougall, Oban Communities Trust
- John Saich, Craignish Village Hall
- Dr. Suzi Macpherson, Senior Researcher at Scottish Parliament
We are always on the look out for additional associates and board members to join our team. If you would like to be considered, please get in touch.