Louise Wildish
About
Having worked in the arts for over 30 years in various roles including actor, director, producer, writer, filmmaker, mentor and disability & inclusion consultant, Louise has had extensive experience of working with a large portfolio of organisations and individuals from across the UK arts sector and beyond.
She's a highly creative artist in her own right and has written, directed and produced many small to large-scale professional and community productions in theatre, dance and film including for Mansfield Palace Theatre, New Perspectives Theatre Company, Nottingham Playhouse, The Core, Corby, People Dancing, The Space, Orchestras Live, Stopgap Dance Company, Mickael Marso Riviere/Company Decalage, and Wildbush Productions. She is a multi award winning BIFA and BAFTA qualifying film maker and has written, directed and produced numerous film shorts. She regularly programmes, produces and manages online and in person projects, events, symposiums, conferences and digital programmes on regional, national and international scales.
She works strategically as an arts leader and consultant, and with inclusion embedded in her values and work. She was Education Manager for Mansfield Palace Theatre for 8 years (2000 - 2009) and held Project Manager roles for organisations including Curve Theatre and Orchestras Live, and then Producer, and Head of Inclusion for People Dancing for almost 12 years (2013-2025) where she supported people to engage in dance working in partnership with many organisations such as, Candoco Dance Company, Corali, Stopgap Dance Company, TIN Arts, Parable Dance etc. Whilst in this role, she executive produced the internationally renowned 11 Million Reasons to Dance photography exhibition and film programme which toured across the UK and Internationally 2014 – 2021 and which reached over 1 million people worldwide, and in 2024 in partnership with Corali she produced the Leadership in Action Symposium in 2024, a symposium dedicated to learning disabled dance leaders. She worked for The Working Group a consortium of national dance partners to deliver a new research study funded by Arts Council England; Barriers to Progression & Employment for Disabled People in Dance. She is also a trustee for Second Hand Dance Company. Louise co-founded the Chronically ill Artists Network, an organisation which aims to raise awareness of chronic illnesses and support artists, producers and arts professionals working in the arts with a chronic illness. In 2022 the organisation was awarded its first Arts Council England grant to deliver programmes of activity.
As a qualified life coach and mentor she's worked with hundreds of artists over the years from across the UK to help them develop their practice, write funding bids, business planning and access support, including since 2021, being a mentor as part of Mercury Theatre’s Mercury Creatives programme. She supports artists with business development, profile raising, producing and fundraising. In 2026 with funding from Art Council England, Louise launched Create & Connect, the first disabled leadership programme supporting disabled artists from the East Midlands.
She is an award-winning BIFA and BAFTA qualifying film maker, writing, directing and producing short films both drama and documentary. She has worked with organisations including The Space, and film maker Ben Williams to create a series of shorts. She was a mentee on the BBCs Media Trust 50/50 Screenskills Reframing Disability mentoring programme and BFI disabled mentoring. She continues to write, direct and produce her own films, including the multi award winning film How Long released in early 2025 which featured at festivals including Seachange, Tweetfest and Manchester Film Festival.
Alongside Co-Executive Director of the Chronically ill Artists Network, Louise now works as a freelance producer, presenter, consultant, film maker and artist. She works as a consultant, producer or supporter for artists including Chloe Wade, Mafe Toledo, Sarah Rain Kolawo, David Blayze, Mickael Marso Riviere and more. She describes herself as a silent activist and change maker, passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. Difference interests her, injustice fires her. She likes to tell stories that go unheard and support those who need it most.