https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/contact daily 0.75 2022-02-05 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/about daily 0.75 2024-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/6421eac7-8f78-4f35-b248-d8b5209ee4c1/Nicola+Sim-headshot_15.12.22.jpg About - About me I am a freelance researcher, evaluator and consultant with over 17 years of experience in the visual arts. I work with galleries, museums, theatres, adventure playgrounds and other organisations - often supporting multi-sited partnership programmes. My work is informed by the principles of disability justice and where possible I like to collaborate with people who bring relevant lived and professional experiences to projects. I frequently work with creative consultant and film curator Tara Brown on critical friend/evaluation commissions. My areas of expertise are related to: - Creative and professional development - Inclusive and accessible practice - Mental health, mutual care and activism in art - Peer-led programming and social practice - Public programming for adults and young people - Creative labour and livelihoods - The intersections between play and contemporary art - Partnership working (I authored the book Youth work, galleries and the politics of partnership, 2019, based on my PhD research with ten UK galleries). While I am based in Bristol, I work all over the UK and have developed research and evaluation work with the V&A, Tate, Wellcome Collection, Somerset House, Freelands Foundation, Chisenhale Gallery, South London Gallery and many other organisations over recent years. As a consultant I have organised major national conferences, and I have extensive experience of running public programmes in galleries – organising hundreds of events, workshops and courses and curating project exhibitions in my former role as Curator of Public Programmes at Whitechapel Gallery. Alongside my freelance practice I also work as Research Fellow: Art Partnerships at the University of the West of England: Bristol, where I manage the partnership between the University’s School of Arts and Spike Island. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/home daily 1.0 2024-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1588977647057-ZD8XRGZBAXOL954ZK8A3/2476d4e8ac0bec17-IMG_0827.jpg Home - Evaluation As an independent evaluator or critical friend I aim to bring a fresh perspective and analytical rigour to projects. I work with a range of organisations on long-term and short-term evaluations, designing bespoke methodologies and often carrying out interviews, discussions and observations, or using creative methods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1588976251761-7IQ69V2XKOD53UWKVE25/Book+cover+Youth+Work+Galleries+Politics+of+Partnership.jpg Home - Research I work closely with institutions to explore pressing issues in contemporary creative practice. I am trained in qualitative and quantitative research methods and am experienced in ethnographic and mixed methods approaches. As a researcher I seek to represent stories and voices that are often overlooked and I work alongside organisations to encourage meaningful change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589143456529-2E57A4D971YAZFWTVYCK/circuit+3.jpg Home - Consultancy I provide strategic advice, organise public programmes, write exhibition texts and lead professional development workshops for cultural organisations and practitioners. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/writingspeaking daily 0.75 2023-08-07 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work daily 0.75 2025-11-09 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/hard-graft-commissions-wellcome-collection monthly 0.5 2025-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/dbb0e800-9736-4cc8-842e-35774bcc8935/Money.jpg https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/holocaust-centre-north monthly 0.5 2025-05-07 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/va monthly 0.5 2025-11-09 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/touretteshero monthly 0.5 2024-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/31d05ded-0b6b-451b-9e53-70e604d312d2/Screenshot+2024-11-29+at+00.05.08.png https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/university-of-the-west-of-england monthly 0.5 2024-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/8e43a652-a2ee-4ee7-ad5c-bdbab4fda784/Spike+Open+Studios+2023_28.04.23_Dan+Weill+Photography-158.jpg https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/national-gallery-modern-contemporary-programme monthly 0.5 2023-08-06 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/new-town-culture monthly 0.5 2023-08-05 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/somerset-house-engagement-and-skills monthly 0.5 2022-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/310298ac-9dbb-446c-be54-9bd142d496c1/IMG_5973.JPG Work - Somerset House Engagement and Skills - Somerset House Engagement & Skills In 2021-22 I was the external evaluator for Upgrade Yourself: Kickstart – a programme offering six-month placements for 18-24 year olds in resident organisations across Somerset House. Utilising the Government’s Kickstart scheme, this programme ran in conjunction with Westminster City Council and was aimed at applicants in receipt of Universal Credit. Host organisations are Agency Inc, Factory 42, Fuel, Live Music Now, Loop Music Ltd, Mighty Productions, Royal Society of Literature and Somerset House Enterprises Ltd. This work followed on from my evaluation of the Creative Careers Academy programme at Somerset House in 2020. Findings from the evaluation are used in my article Hustling, hybridity and changing attitudes to work in the arts for Engage 46: Generation Z and the Future of Creative Work. In 2021 I also worked alongside the Engagement & Skills team at Somerset House to collaboratively develop their evaluation framework and methodologies for each of their programme strands. Following the delivery of some in-house training I also produced in-depth and easy read guides to approaching evaluation for staff and programme participants. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/28-million-minds monthly 0.5 2022-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/4d2d3f0b-460f-4178-86da-e1aa8161d1f2/2.8m-Minds-by-Nina-Photography-59_square-1080x1080.jpg Work - 2.8 Million Minds 2.8 Million Minds How can young people use art and culture to create change in their mental health and change how mental health care is imagined, delivered and funded? https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/chisenhale-art-place monthly 0.5 2021-09-24 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/being-human-at-wellcome-collection monthly 0.5 2020-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1597251911099-NYGS5RK5TC5T7LVM39QQ/Screen+Shot+2020-06-24+at+11.14.10.png Work - Being Human at Wellcome Collection - Evaluation of Being Human, Wellcome Collection Across 2020-21 I worked in collaboration with curator Tara Brown to evaluate Wellcome Collection’s new permanent exhibition Being Human. Being Human explores what it means to be human in the 21st century. Divided into four sections: Genetics, Minds & Bodies, Infection, and Environmental Breakdown, the new display presents around 50 artworks and objects. A major aim behind the exhibition is to represent diverse perspectives and overlapping identities, focusing on four key groups: disabled people, artists, activists and scientists. The exhibition has received particular attention for its progressive approach to accessible design. Using the Social Model of Disability and other principles of inclusive practice, we carried out the first stage of this long-term evaluation. Through interviews with staff, researchers, artists and other practitioners we interrogated organisational and individual learning from the exhibition’s development and its first six months of opening. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/tate-modern-early-years-families-learning-programme monthly 0.5 2020-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1592300253526-H8KM1BCNVG6YV1XDJLBW/Tate+Modern+Intergenerational+Studio+The+Elements+Friday+%28High+Res%29-48.jpg Work - Tate Modern Early Years & Families Learning Programme - Tate Modern Early Years & Families Learning Programme I recently completed a short piece of data analysis work for the Early Years and Families Learning Programme at Tate Modern. This involved an analysis of existing feedback and documentation around the Intergenerational Making Studio - a drop-in space located by the Turbine Hall. The studio is an artist-designed environment, (informed by key concepts in the Reggio Emilia approach) which responds to themes raised by current commissions and exhibitions at the museum. The studios produced for 2019-20 included The Elements by Albert Potrony, inspired by materials and ideas from the Olafur Eliasson: In real life exhibition and the philosophies behind Loose Parts Play; and Making Protest by Jessie McLaughlin, which took as its starting point Kara Walker’s Hyundai Commission Fons Americanus and the #RhodesMustFall movement. Families were invited to explore, create, destroy, read and debate what radical change they would like to see. Images by Rob Harris https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/professional-development-workshops monthly 0.5 2020-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589280763993-ZQWYL224P1MI323DT4PT/6803128c61b92ecd-IMG_02141.jpg Work - Professional development workshops - Professional development workshops In 2014 I organised a series of intensive day-long professional development courses for practitioners, in association with Whitechapel Gallery and The Art Fund. These fully-booked courses in Exhibitions, Development, Film, Events and Communications featured expert guest speakers from a range of arts organisations. Between 2009-2013 I also organised numerous study days on art handling, curating archives, curating folk art and publishing artists' books, and devised a regular series of six-week courses in association with Bishopsgate Institute on different themes, including photography, architecture, the body, performance, sculpture and painting. All of these courses featured specialist practitioners. In addition to these programmes, I have taught and supported students on the MA Curating the Contemporary at London Metropolitan University, in collaboration with colleagues at Whitechapel Gallery. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/tate-forum monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589233243003-74BX3MHZOM70N1JEV5B4/2bb8af50d78d43c5-Meeting20March7.jpg Work - Tate Forum - Tate Forum In 2007 I was commissioned to evaluate the long term impact of Tate Britain’s peer-led advisory group Tate Forum through filmed interviews and round table conversations with over 20 past and present participants and staff members. This research informed the engage Journal article: Young people and agency: 'on the evolution of a peer-led programme', by Rebecca Sinker. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/young-tate-online monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589233086686-XXE0UB9ZQKUO4H4H05HY/3bfe0354d084d84c-YoungTate.jpg Work - Young Tate Online - Young Tate Online In 2008 I was commissioned to research and create content for a new 'Art School' section on the Young Tate website, offering advice and information on art education for young people. Much of this content has now migrated onto the new Tate website. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/south-london-gallery-play-local monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589231934440-JNVSII3SCMKHKMCGZEVQ/b84a9473df7294e7-IMG_2490.jpg Work - South London Gallery: Play Local - Play Local, South London Gallery In 2015 I evaluated South London Gallery's Play Local project. This involved three months of observations, interviews and participatory evaluation with playworkers, children, parents, artists and staff. Play Local is a three year programme based around five Peckham housing estates, and the long-term goal of programme is to explore connections between contemporary art and play through engagement with local residents. The focus of my evaluation was to understand the impact of the programme for different groups and individuals involved, and to gather ideas for future change. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/circuit-conference-test-risk-change monthly 0.5 2020-05-10 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/whitechapel-gallery-public-programme monthly 0.5 2020-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589234496776-2H7UKALZ01XND19683UM/5844aff43ec2df87-6abc4c34280743b4-IMG_4975-1.jpg Work - Whitechapel Gallery Public Programme https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589234506774-83UVKA689LCLTJ7FGMK5/15bdd4fccf0d5f3a-0d35220c3ffd79f6-IMG_3050-2.jpg Work - Whitechapel Gallery Public Programme https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589242301492-PLMPD82J8P0KTOSJCH0M/do-or-diy-1170x655.jpg Work - Whitechapel Gallery Public Programme https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589243254291-NFQLGQZSVYG5C8UU9JUU/judy.jpg Work - Whitechapel Gallery Public Programme https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589243262153-P8YHZ0ZYKD2BLU9RZE0Y/GM.jpg Work - Whitechapel Gallery Public Programme https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/making-routes-oasis-adventure-playground-battersea-arts-centre-south-london-gallery monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589223894584-5DPIVJ9IREB8UZNA1DGO/MR7.jpg Work - Making Routes: Oasis Adventure Playground, Battersea Arts Centre & South London Gallery - Making Routes: Oasis Adventure Playground, Battersea Arts Centre, South London Gallery I was the External Evaluator for Making Routes - a creative partnership between Battersea Arts Centre, Oasis Adventure Playground and South London Gallery, funded by the Spirit of 2012 Trust. This 18-month project involved disabled and non-disabled artists, who each undertook residencies across these neigbouring organisations, engaging diverse groups of children and young people growing up in densely populated urban environments. Together with the project team and artists, we developed and drew upon upon inclusive, creative methods to evaluate the programme. Download our evaluation documents from the Making Routes tumblr here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589224336549-8P9JUT9S4XHSXTHIYQX9/MR1.jpg Work - Making Routes: Oasis Adventure Playground, Battersea Arts Centre & South London Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589224408740-8H983XS0TURT1Z25FIEX/MR4.jpg Work - Making Routes: Oasis Adventure Playground, Battersea Arts Centre & South London Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589224372717-UYAQQN96MYM6PEISG5LO/MR3.jpg Work - Making Routes: Oasis Adventure Playground, Battersea Arts Centre & South London Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589224522202-PRBCDPJL918NG5TWN9LA/MR5.jpg Work - Making Routes: Oasis Adventure Playground, Battersea Arts Centre & South London Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589225888902-FZ0RLLTQ3IFZEED8VHAA/MR2.jpg Work - Making Routes: Oasis Adventure Playground, Battersea Arts Centre & South London Gallery https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/artisa-foundation-curatorial-fellowship monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/somerset-house-trust-creative-careers-academy monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/up-projects-constellations monthly 0.5 2022-07-28 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/create-a-house-for-artists monthly 0.5 2022-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/4fa2fe08-5e01-45fc-848e-fbf414eea8b4/Create+.jpg https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/great-ormond-street-hospital-arts monthly 0.5 2025-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/2dcd1994-a7b4-40ac-9bf6-0942aaf19ae8/Ball.jpg https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/bath-spa-university-creative-policy-fellowships monthly 0.5 2025-11-09 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/inventory-of-behaviours-tate-exchange monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589230663824-SWMRZEER1H2WLGHFQEJ6/eab13fbf0e1fea94-IMG_0922.JPG Work - Inventory of Behaviours Tate Exchange - Inventory of Behaviours In June 2018 I was invited to act as a guest ethnographer for the Inventory of Behaviours - a project organised by artists/senior lecturers Jo Addison (Kingston School of Art) and Natasha Kidd (Bath Spa University) for Tate Exchange. Across three days I observed students, practitioners and visitors interacting with the project, and participated in a public discussion about artists' productivity, and the generative potential of everyday habits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589230767547-XDZTGBW3KLBLKFEQIQJT/7b1413e86df57114-IMG_0927-1.JPG Work - Inventory of Behaviours Tate Exchange https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589230781407-IGD0TB3QULYW9QCRXPM2/ac17eb1409ad70c8-IMG_0936.JPG Work - Inventory of Behaviours Tate Exchange https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/project-three-y36am monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589228333500-P5RUUDCKJZ8HNHV6MZGM/d651719d2a960aad-IMG_20190424_154525.jpg Work - Collaborative Doctoral Partnership: Tate & The University of Nottingham https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589228368305-TL4FX2QQXZPRXQ364PVD/Book+cover+Youth+Work+Galleries+Politics+of+Partnership.jpg Work - Collaborative Doctoral Partnership: Tate & The University of Nottingham https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/tate-events monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589232331820-Y520QGMWT3ZDPXE1OW69/9d1e301cc06ea418-Portfolio.jpg Work - Tate Events - Tate events Portfolio Advice Day: In 2008 I co-ordinated Portfolio Advice Day at Tate Britain. This is an annual event offering practical advice, mock interviews and portfolio guidance for hundreds of young people looking to pursue higher education in the arts. The event was programmed by Widening Participation, University of the Arts London. Adult Programmes: In the same year I also worked as a temporary assistant in the Adult Programmes team at Tate Britain, supporting conferences, study days and Late at Tate events. https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/project-two-68mfc monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589226788823-CUCXFX5XTI4OMOZZX38R/96835007_258047335386664_8813773633039106048_n.jpg Work - South London Gallery Open Plan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589227241954-E2XP8OGPRK5GWGB2MPFM/IMG_20190917_162824.jpg Work - South London Gallery Open Plan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589227278805-K88H7TEF0I0KR0U2KPKV/IMG_20190817_134048.jpg Work - South London Gallery Open Plan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589227301935-F68W8PYIBOKHIJJXMM6M/IMG_20190817_103013%281%29.jpg Work - South London Gallery Open Plan https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/40-years-of-play-at-marble-hill-playcentres monthly 0.5 2020-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589231077945-OB5NG9RP1GTW5GJ3KDR1/f414b9147c9f37f8-Marbsexhibition-3.jpg Work - 40 years of play at Marble Hill Playcentres - 40 Years of Play at Marble Hill Playcentres In summer 2017 I worked with children, parents and staff at Marble Hill Playcentres in Richmond to produce an archive display featuring filmed interviews, photographs and audio recordings looking back on the site’s 40 year history and exploring changing attitudes to outdoor adventure play. This project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589231472945-6UUPDOLDCTBOVYLCRIQN/9e9f9218863f8495-Marbsexhibition-9.jpg Work - 40 years of play at Marble Hill Playcentres https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589231507067-ZVOIU1NHO3LGOTW0HMQ3/777bf6d020e9f41e-Marbsexhibition-8.jpg Work - 40 years of play at Marble Hill Playcentres https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589231492225-FL2PN9LM0FU10NKWTCUC/8a0f2558c34657c8-Marbsexhibition-11.jpg Work - 40 years of play at Marble Hill Playcentres https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589231533039-PVLH1Y2JT6ZD0PK93V7U/fd83c64855799fd5-Marbsexhibition-5.jpg Work - 40 years of play at Marble Hill Playcentres https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/project-two-lcwep monthly 0.5 2020-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589240937894-BHOZ3VWCJGVCQUY5URE9/FAP3.jpg Work - Freelands Artist Programme - Freelands Artist Programme Freelands Foundation is a visual arts and education foundation set up in 2015 to support artists and cultural institutions. I was the External Evaluator/Researcher for the Freelands Artist Programme - a five year initiative that provided over £1.5 million to institutions to support emerging artists and art ecosystems in the four UK nations. The organisations involved were g39 in Cardiff, PS2 in Belfast, Site Gallery in Sheffield and Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh. I have also authored a number of research reports exploring opportunities for philanthropy as part of broader consultancy work for the Foundation. A summary of one these reports is available to read here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589241657485-96FGOL8WJI8A2K0UNYS2/IMG_20191204_193450.jpg Work - Freelands Artist Programme https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589241678471-WJ03OHZ3NQ8DXXI7ZL6M/FAP2.jpg Work - Freelands Artist Programme https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/1589241685723-SVI1STSVRIGHXS7KX4AJ/FAP1.jpg Work - Freelands Artist Programme https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/barmy-army monthly 0.5 2023-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb5be31a2c8b15611b8131d/d1dec1c3-c2c8-43fb-a811-1fe5b30917ed/Screenshot+2022-10-20+at+12.56.15.png https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/universities-and-heritage-partnership-network monthly 0.5 2025-11-09 https://www.nicolasim.co.uk/work/creative-break-time monthly 0.5 2025-11-09