Rachel is a highly experienced cultural leader, consultant and director of communications who puts audiences at the centre and builds brand and profile for arts organisations.
Throughout her career she has gained a breadth of experience and expertise across organisational growth, strategic partnerships, marketing, communications, digital development, content and editorial across multiple platforms, fundraising and income generation, research and insight, brand and design, policy and public affairs, and sustainability.
At Art Fund she was part of the senior management team setting the strategic vision and business plan for the charity to fund art, grow audiences and amplify the museums and galleries sector. Her external-facing role involved working with over 800 partner museums, galleries and historic houses UK wide, which further developed her extensive network of and close working relationships with museum colleagues, media, funders, policy makers, artists and advocates. She led Art Fund Museum of the Year, carefully developing the prize into a high-profile vehicle for boosting awareness, visiting and engagement, working closely with partners the BBC, Google Arts & Culture and The Art Newspaper.
At the Whitechapel Gallery she was driving audience growth: doubling visitor figures to 400k a year, and developing the audience development plan for its £13.5m expansion, given the highest scoring by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. She also initiated and delivered First Thursdays, late night art and events in east London, which sees 150 galleries and museums open late each month.
As an independent cultural consultant Rachel is now providing strategic support and advice to a range of clients including: Mayor of London’s Diversity in the Public Realm programme; South Bank + Waterloo Net Zero 2030; Royal Museums Greenwich; Brighton & Hove Council; Arts Council England; The Exhibitions Group; Goodwood Art Foundation; Pallant House Gallery; The Group for Education in Museums (GEM); South London Gallery; Art UK; Freelands Foundation; and the Glass Castle Foundation.
Rachel is on the board of Harewood House Trust and is Vice-Chair of Edinburgh Art Festival. She is a Freelance Connector for the Arts Marketing Association and a Freelance Advisory Group Circle member for Arts Council England.