From 2008-2010, Gerri will be working to support LARC (Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium) with its evaluation development programme in North Liverpool. This aims to provide robust evidence of the social impact of cultural projects that address regeneration issues and to build long-term evaluation capacity in the area.

Her hope is that this project, supported through LARC’s overall Liverpool Thrive Programme will help to highlight the considerable strengths of cultural organisations, who are able to experiment to with innovative and imaginative approaches which are often later adapted by other sectors. They can and do act as the research and development wing of social and cultural change.  The programme should also help them reflect more deeply on their work, articulate their achievements more clearly and define new challenges for the decade ahead.

Women in the Centre of a Storm : Home Required

During her time as Simon Fellow at the University of Manchester, Gerri carried out preliminary research for a theatre piece exploring the stories of women activists in Belfast in the years leading up to 1914. ‘It is a fascinating moment in Belfast’s history’ she says. ‘ A struggle is going on for votes for women, for better wages and conditions for women in the work-place and women are campaigning for and against Home Rule. It’s a story of extraordinary actions, political machinations and desperate decisions.  In 2009, I’ll be looking for a home for it – a good way to develop the ideas further.’