Dave had 30 years experience in community education, local authorities and cultural projects including
managing adult education,
managing projects and provision, monitoring, evaluating and inspecting, managing a centre of excellence for textile crafts,
creating music, events and three-dimensional objects, creating adventure playgrounds,
presenting and performing,
advocating and training for creativity, equity, equality & diversity,
mentoring educators,
mentoring artists and innovators,
training youth & community workers in a Higher Education Institute,
social and community development,
supporting disadvantaged individuals and communities Now, early retirement from local authority work has created an opportunity or two,
and all those skills, passions and networks are demanding to be used
even more intensively, flexibly, ethically and responsively.
"I have known Dave for several decades. We have shared the stage and collaborated on several creative projects that go way beyond mere artistic self-expression to engage diverse communities, artistic idioms and abilities.
Dave is gifted with that special combination of incisive intellect, creative vision and humility that I rarely encounter among practitioners and arts organisations in my extensive travels. I believe this – combined with his personable demeanour - is the key to the great success of every project he creates, performs in, manages or curates.
Dave enjoys the challenge of making magic out of concealed resources. I do not know anybody in my vast networks who has a greater ability to turn as sharp as a British black taxi to respond to the most challenging request to conjure the wherewithal to deliver a dynamic creative event."
Eugene Skeef – 2 May 2011