Who we are
Many Minds was founded by Olivia Ware (Executive Director) and Viki Browne (Artistic Director) in 2017. We are registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and are governed by a Board of Trustees. Our trustees are Sandy Masters, Tom Newman, Tabatha Rodney, M Blaydes and Angelina McClelland.
Meet the team
Viki Browne | Artistic Director
Get in touch with me about artistic projects and collaborations: viki@many-minds.org / 07732 291 248
I am Viki and I use she/her pronouns. I am the Artistic Director and co-founder of Many Minds. I facilitate workshops with members, direct performances, work with artistic teams, staff, volunteers and the board to try and make our dreams a reality and have an overall eye on the artistic direction of the organisation. I work four days a week.
I am an independent performance artist. You can read more about my work here: https://vikibrowne.com In my spare time I like to jump into cold bodies of water, stroke my cat Cyndi Clawpurr and ingest ART in all its forms.
Olivia Ware | Executive Director
Contact me if you want to discuss fundraising, partnerships, strategies and policies or anything else: olivia@many-minds.org / 07843 210 272
I’m Olivia. My pronouns are she/her. I am the co-founder and Exec Director at Many Minds. I oversee the support, production, fundraising and all other organisational sides of the charity and lead on safeguarding.
I liaise with funders, partners and potential collaborators to discuss our members’ ideas and make them a reality.
Outside of work, you might find me dancing, hula hooping, skipping, swimming, climbing up trees or making and playing songs.
Laura Singer | Access Support Worker and Volunteer Coordinator
Get in touch with me about becoming a member or volunteer and any support needs: laura@many-minds.org / 07732 291 250
Hello! I’m Laura and I use the pronouns she/her. My role at Many Minds is to support new and existing members to join our workshops and performances. I’m available to talk through member’s needs and how they can dismantle barriers to their participation. I also support our wonderful team of volunteers. I work part-time including Mondays and Tuesdays.
When I’m not at Many Minds I’m often found attending or facilitating a creative workshop – anything from Theatre of the Oppressed, to art journaling to nature observation. On other days I’ll be out exploring the countryside with my dog, a flask of tea and a picnic, especially if there’s some water to jump into!
Alice Crawshaw | Access Support Worker (Youth)
Get in touch with me about becoming a member and any support needs: info@many-minds.org / 07732 291 250
Hey I’m Alice (she/her), my role at Many Minds is to support members to make our workshops as accessible as possible. This includes having a chat to introduce new members to Many Minds, sending out reminders about events or checking what someone might need to participate while we’re together as a group.
Outside of Many Minds I am also a Youth & Play worker. I am passionate about community engaged arts and theatre as tools for social and environment justice.
Ru Brooks | Freelance Company Administrator
Contact me at ru@many-minds.org / 07845 178 865
I’m Ru and I use the pronouns he/him. As the Company Administrator at Many Minds, I’m here to provide support to the team for anything needed to keep the organisational wheels of the charity turning. With a background in event production and project coordination, I work backstage to help bring Many Minds’ vision to life.
When I’m not with Many Minds, I’m either coordinating events for various charities in the South West, producing music/soundscapes, or out cycling somewhere.
What we do
We work with individuals to engage with their creativity, improve confidence, self-esteem and build social skills and networks. We run weekly workshops in theatre making skills to devise and create high quality contemporary performance.
Workshops
Our workshops will continue from Tuesday 13th February after our current trips series comes to an end. For more info on our trips series, click here.
Our performance making workshops are open to anyone aged 16+ years. It is easy to join. You just need to get in touch with Laura, our Access Support Worker and fill out a simple membership form.
WHEN: Tuesdays 5:30 – 8 pm
WHERE: Travelling Light Theatre, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol BS5 0AX
New members are welcome. No experience is necessary. For more information contact laura@many-minds.org
Facilitator Training
We are dedicated to making the arts more accessible for people who experience mental ill-health and providing opportunities to progress into careers in performance. We support and mentor a small number of members each year through mentoring and bespoke training in facilitation. Two of our members who have taken part in the training have both gone onto paid facilitation positions.
Training and Consultancy
Workplace workshops Mental ill-health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion annually in the UK. Three quarters of people feel like they cannot talk to anyone at work about their mental health.
We provide bespoke creative workshops that explore issues around mental health to help break down stigma and create a better sense of wellbeing in the workplace.
Our participatory approach allows employees to explore mental health together in a safe, accessible and fun environment that helps facilitate open conversations in an exciting way.
We offer training in:
- Mental health and facilitating workshops (for facilitators and workers)
- Mental health and engaging the public (for staff with public facing roles)
- Mental health and organisations (For staff, managers and boards of trustees)
We have worked as consultants with The Watershed, Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Bristol.
For bookings and enquiries contact:
Olivia Ware: 07843210272 / olivia@many-minds.org
