Introducing our new Director
Hi there, I'm Sam Brimer, a Freelance Marketing and Project Manager specialising in the arts and culture sector. I’m also super excited to say that, as of autumn of last year, I'm a Director of North East Cultural Freelancers (Cultural Freelancers CIC), joining Leila in supporting our brilliant cultural workforce.
Sam, a white woman with chin-length brown hair.
My introduction to NECF
When I joined the NECF Facebook group in 2020, I was working in the Communications team of a large cultural institution in the region. I joined in the hope of making contacts, and to get the word out about opportunities we had. I remember being blown away by how active and community-focused the group was - and I’ve had the pleasure of watching it grow and evolve since then.
I’ve helped with marketing NECF on and off for a few years now, and worked with Leila in a few different capacities. Since becoming a freelancer myself in 2023, I’ve truly felt the value of having a space to belong, come to for advice, or find opportunities. What Leila and our region’s freelancers have built together is truly special, and I’m so pleased to be a part of it. When Leila asked me if I’d consider coming on board as a Director of the CIC, it was a no-brainer for me.
My background
I’ve worked in marketing for over 15 years, mostly within the arts and culture sector. I’ve worked in-house at big organisations, in small agencies and I’ve now been freelance for almost two years. All of these have their challenges, but freelancing has been a game-changer for me and I love it. As well as the flexibility, I also love the autonomy of choosing the clients and projects I work with.
My role at NECF
Being a Director of a CIC is different to the salaried job title of Director/Managing Director. A Director of a Community Interest Company (CIC) is responsible for the strategic direction and governance of the company, ensuring it fulfills its social purpose while adhering to legal and financial obligations, prioritizing community benefit over profit.
Whilst Leila and I have very similar values and beliefs, we have different skillsets and experience. Working as a team, we are better equipped to support our community of cultural freelancers, and we have big plans to do more of that going forward. I focus on marketing and communication, project managing and some of the admin associated with the CIC. Leila is a connector, mentor and strong advocate for the workforce, often having a seat at the table in strategic meetings on a local, regional and national level. We’re both present in the Facebook group and work together to keep it a safe, inclusive and useful space.
My personal life
I live in South Tyneside with my husband, our two children (11 and 6) and our bonkers Sprocker Spaniel. I’m a true crime nerd and have a podcast playing in my ear most of the time. I also love to cook, dance and laugh - sometimes at the same time.
Contacting me
You can find me on LinkedIn, though I’m inconsistent with posting! If you want to chat to me about NECF you can email us at info@culturalfreelancers.org, or if it’s about something else hello@sambrimer.co.uk.
