Romica Sharma

Experience

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  London Borough of Camden

  Sept 2004 - Jul 2008

  Training Officer

  In this role excellent customer relations were vital since our funding depended upon client buy in. I managed 60-80 events a month and increased attendance through targeted marketing. I also assisted with staff conferences and larger events such as the biennial School Choirs Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. I also edited a promotional video for this concert series which was used to successfully gain increased external funding to support future events.

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  London Borough of Hounslow

  Dec 2009 - Jun 2011

  Team Assistant

  I joined during a busy period of structural change. I learnt procedures quickly and set up new systems.

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  Thomas Cook Group

  Jun 2011 - Jul 2012

  Overseas Holiday Representative

  I worked autonomously within hotels to ensure guests (100-200 weekly) had successful holidays. I advised my discerning guests regarding: resort facilities, places of interest, local culture, special events etc… I also guided excursions and ran weekly social events for guests (including hosting participatory activities). I built excellent rapport with business partners (such as hoteliers/suppliers).

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  London Borough of Hounslow

  Aug 2012 - Jan 2014

  PA & Projects Officer

  My role was to act as PA to the Head of Service and manage adhoc projects within a team processing over 10,000 applications a year. I had sole responsibility for researching training materials, writing copy, designing brochures/leaflets, updating website and collating internal reports. I also liaised with clients/partners to build effective relationships and create buy-in from stakeholders to new initiatives.

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  Courtauld Institute of Art, U. of London

  Oct 2014 - Nov 2015

  Public Programmes Administrator

  I was the first dedicated administrator for the Public Programmes team. Duties included: • Being first point of contact for schools and young people, promoting our gallery education programme and advising on engagement relevant to Keystages as well as community groups. • To manage bookings and liaise with a team of freelancers. • To write copy for website, schools newsletters and volunteer bulletins.• Analysing trends, evaluating projects and proactively developing educational activities offer. • To assist student ambassador recruitment by arranging training and advertising opportunities. Show less

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  Southbank Centre

  Dec 2014 - Dec 2018

  Tour Guide & Host

  I have been involved in several projects as a creative facilitator, tour guide and events assistant:• Recently delivered heritage-based tours for reopening of Queen Elizabeth Hall. Led immersive site-specific theatrical experience, designed by critically acclaimed Klanghaus. Skills involved interpretation of archive material and learning script exploring architectural and cultural memories within the building. • Facilitated over 1000 immersive tours for Roald Dahl’s Wondercrump and Moominland exhibitions. Skills required: considerable independent research, public speaking in character and translating information for wide audience, e.g. families, adult enthusiasts, school groups and VIP guests. Led relaxed tours for groups with additional learning/access needs. I focused on themes of community, joy of reading, play within designed spaces and importance of creative imagination.• Supported expansion by designing family tours for annual Imagine festival and built relationships with educational groups to offer bespoke tours. Assisted with creation of Member tours, resulting in better awareness of programme and increased engagement with wider activities. Wrote and lead workshops for primary schools. Assisted pilot project to widen site access for deaf/blind patrons. Outreached community/youth groups via heritage/industry tours.• Worked as events assistant within Education team. Planned, programmed and event managed the school’s day for annual Being a Man festival. Programmed a very successful creative writing workshop with Caleb Femi (former Young People’s Laureate for London) for male secondary school students. Received great feedback from participants and teacher’s reported increased engagement from some of their more challenging pupils.• Temped within Artistic rentals team. Gained invaluable insight into liaising with external promoters, managing rentals of artistic space, site design planning, contracts, budgets and evaluation reports. Show less

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  The British Library

  Jan 2018 - Jun 2018

  Learning Assistant

  I joined this team to administrate the learning programme for ‘Unlocking our Sound Heritage’, a major HLF funded project digitising at risk recordings. The programme aimed to engage new audiences and widen access to audio heritage. I was also responsible for assisting the daily administration of booking schools, arranging workshops, event managing and researching local organisations as potential visitors or partners. In the early stages of this project, I was able to: • Draft a volunteer training programme and assist with planning an audio tour to be led by research students.• Liaise with curators to identify potential recordings for website content, blogs and social media • On two occasions I stepped in to deliver events at short notice. Firstly, some magical drawing activity workshops on a Community open day. Secondly, a schools tour within the sell-out Harry Potter exhibition. Show less

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  SPID THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED

  Jul 2018 - Aug 2019

  Arts Administrator & Assistant Producer

  I am currently freelancing with this local theatre company for their acclaimed Living Heritage programme, which offers young people free workshops with creative professionals in various disciplines. The project collects oral history testimony from estate residents and the young participants use this research to create artistic work such as short films, theatre productions, radio plays etc… I look after:• All administration for the project including budget, sourcing materials/equipment, liaising with professional experts, press releases, website and social media, recruitment etc…• I undertake outreaching activities on estates to recruit young people for workshops and raise awareness of the project amongst residents to get them onboard (especially with oral history aspects). • I also assist with continually developing the programme by suggesting improvements, new strategies to engage the community, new avenues to get work seen/screened and improving evaluations methods. Show less