Creative Careers Month: Q + A with Polly Cuthbert, Artist Development Producer at The Place

Polly Cuthbert — Artist Development Producer at The Place — shares what she enjoys most about working with artists, the unexpected variety in her role, and the memorable projects and skills that shape her work.

What’s your role at The Place, and what does a typical day look like for you?

I’m the Artist Development Producer, working in the Public Programmes team at The Place. My days can vary (which is always nice) and involve lots of meetings with artists, project planning, offering advice, giving feedback and exploring new projects that artists are dreaming up. Two major projects I manage in my role are Choreodrome, a yearly residency programme for artists creating new work for theatre, and Work Place, a five-year associate artist programme. The role is also about sharing information — the arts is a tricky sector to navigate, so I do my best to disseminate information in an accessible and clear way.

How did you find your way to The Place?

I studied and worked in Leeds for six years. Leeds has such an amazing live art and festival scene, and I was very lucky to meet lots of artists and producers making beautiful work in different spaces. I was a producer for a festival in 2020 that was due to programme Requardt & Rosenberg's Future Cargo, and through this, I met the wonderful team producing the show at The Place. After the pandemic — along with some reflection, a newfound passion for dance, and dreams of relocation — I applied for what felt like 300 jobs and eventually got my role at The Place.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Every day, I get to talk to artists — big or small, they’re always doing something exciting!

What’s one part of your job that people might be surprised to learn about?

This Autumn alone I have worked with a sword swallower, pole dancer, Jungian dream expert, and somebody who would like to teach young girls to use power tools....

Has there been a favourite project or standout memory during your time here?

The Work Place Artists — a cohort of 11 incredible choreographers and dance makers — are very special to me. In January 2024, we went on a four-day intensive in the Cotswolds. The weather was beautifully cold and sunny, and we got to enjoy the amazing landscape together. Ben Duke, Frauke Requardt, Urja Desai, and Rosemary Lee facilitated sessions around the theme of ‘Gifts’, which were both reflective and replenishing. It felt like the perfect start to the new year — very mindful, but with plenty of fun too, as we spent each evening playing The Traitors!

Which skills do you use most often in your role?

I think producers need to be problem solvers — I always make sure I have a plan A, B, C, and D in case of any eventuality. Organisation and adaptability are the most important!