Olivia Franklin, 25, is a freelance writer and project manager based in Folkestone, Kent (UK). Olivia considers it her vocation to make a difference for the lives of individuals and communities through arts and culture within the place she lives.
As a born and bred Folkestoner, Olivia found her feet at humanities college Dover Grammar School for Girls, before heading to London to study English Literature at King’s College London, and graduating in Summer 2018. Driven by her shared interest in predominantly writing, history, archaeology and event curation/producing (rather the mix), Olivia gained experience throughout her last year at University in being part of the production committee for the 23rd Congress of AMMPE (Worldwide Association for Women Writers & Journalists) in London & Kent, as well as a documenter for Canterbury Museums & Galleries. Around this time, in longing to draw together her roles and interests directly through a sense of place - something which Olivia has always felt compelled to do - the pull of Folkestone’s regeneration and growing arts/cultural scenes, drew her, unexpectedly, back to her home town.
After trialling writing some descriptive pieces about some of the events happening under Folkestone Fringe in 2018, Olivia was employed as Communications Manager, which later developed to be Artist Project Coordinator, to present day, Project/Studio Manager. Throughout, Olivia has worked on the marketing, curation, production, documentation and evaluation of numerous community arts festivals in Folkestone. Now, Olivia manages the Folkestone Fringe team and is part of the leadership team in managing the direction, and the big thinking behind the organisation, as well as its outputs, ethics, and aims.
In October 2019, Olivia was also approached by Living Words founder – Susanna Howard - after conversations about her experience, work & interests. Following on from these conversations, Olivia took up the position of being a freelance & trainee Producer, Editor & Writer with arts & literature charity Living Words (working mainly with those living with a dementia, mental ill-health, and terminal illness through homegrown methodology ‘Listen Out Loud’). Olivia has worked on everything from film/song/book distribution, marketing and copywriting, event managing and producing, to day-to-day office/arts administration running and creating podcasts. Currently Project Manager for Kent-wide, multi-organisational Mental Health/Arts platform ‘Flux’, Olivia is also more widely a trainee writer, producer and editor for the organisation, and future Living Words artist, meaning someone who will be able to utilise the homegrown ‘Listen Out Loud’ methodology 1-2-1 with others.
In 2019 also, driven by her passion for place-making, Olivia ran vintage and makers market 'Folkestone Marketplace' at Folkestone Harbour Arm until December 2021, which grew exponentially over the three years in becoming a staple tourist and shopping attraction for the South-East.
From the start of 2020, and through a wide development of skills and experience, as well as an establishment of her own portfolio of transferable work offers, Olivia took up the opportunity to be a freelance Producer for Strangelove – Time-Based Media Festival for many months. Alongside this, she is now a practising freelance website developer and copywriter for various individuals, such as composer John Woolrich, photographer/artist Mick Williamson, and writer/educationalist Myra Barrs.
She is also now approached for her expertise, connections, and knowledge around such areas of work for all that is mentioned above, as well as for support with cultural calendars and for creating engagement through the arts for Folkestone’s communities. Throughout this time, and an area Olivia seeks to expand on, she has written a number of reviews and thought-pieces for the organisations she works for, for others active in the town, as well as for independent magazines such as the Folkestone Foghorn.
Pronouns: she/her