As a queer young person and a bit of a nerd (well, actually, a lot of a nerd), art, culture and heritage offered both escapism and inspiration. I was just as fascinated by the tree-covered spoil heaps and modernist buildings in my hometown of Skelmersdale as I was by trips to the Showcase Cinema in West Derby or visits to museums in Liverpool.

Those early interests led me to study archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, making me the first in my working-class family to take that step. From there, I found my way into museums. In the early 2000s, I was a project curator at National Museums Liverpool, working on the creation of the International Slavery Museum. From 2007 to 2020, I was Curator of Living Cultures and Acting Deputy Head of Collections at Manchester Museum, collaborating with communities to support cultural revitalisation and improve access to global heritage collections.

Combining both my professional and personal experiences, I decided in 2020 to take the leap and become a freelance curator, consultant and cultural practitioner. My practice is rooted in the belief that arts, culture and heritage should be shaped by and for everyone. To achieve this, I specialise in helping organisations diversify and democratise decision-making. I provide tailored support in developing co-creation and other participatory approaches, enabling them to become more responsive to and representative of the communities they collaborate with.

Over the past five years, I’ve worked with clients ranging from museum designers Mather & Co. to Queer Amusements, an LGBTQ+ festival in Blackpool, primarily on projects aimed at widening access to culture. My co-creation training workshops have also become a regular feature of the Museum-iD study day series, attracting participants from across the UK and Europe. In 2025, my workshop was attended by colleagues from English Heritage, the National Library of Wales, the National Museum of Ireland, the V&A and Oslo’s Transcultural Arts Production.

I’ve also shared my expertise in support of cultural governance through both salaried and freelance roles. I’ve held a range of positions, including serving on the National Lottery Heritage Fund North committee from 2016 to 2025. I currently sit on the board of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre and Education Trust, and on the steering group for the Association of Independent Museums’ Safe Access programme.

So, if you’re all about making the amazing art, culture and heritage you and your team create as equitable, engaging and empowering as it can be, I’m here to help.

Stephen Welsh (he/him) • Cultural Practitioner