Steve Purcell

Steve has worked in the UK Higher Education sector for a period of over 30 years. During this time, he has occupied various roles in several national and international university settings. These include Programme Director for Creative and Performing Arts, Dean of Arts Faculty, International Development Professor, Chief External Examiner, and more. He has also served as a Board Member for Arts Council England North.

In 2007 he gained his Professorship at York St John University. In 2014 he became Emeritus Professor at YSJU, in the Faculty of Arts. He is also a Senior Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

In 2014 he became an independent freelance arts and education consultant and was Visiting Professor for a period of 2 years in the Department of Theatre at Leeds Metropolitan University between 2015-17.

His current work focuses on mentoring and coaching, individual and organisational development in the cultural sector and teaching. Since 2014 he has combined working in the Higher Education sector with working with professional organisations in the UK and Europe in the role of mentor, dramaturg or organisational development.

He has been working with a number of professional arts and cultural organisations and events, including Yorkshire Dance (Leeds, UK); Dancebase (Edinburgh, UK); SLAP Performance Group (York, UK); Newcastle University (UK); ACT Festival (Bilbao, Spain); Poliana Lima (Madrid, Spain); Tel Aviv Choreographers Association (Tel Aviv, Israel); Compagnie Cominante (Paris/Brussels/Geneva) and with Athens based choreographer Angelos Papadopoulos.

In 2023 he was invited by Rose Bruford College to be Course Director for the final year of the BA Acting programme and has subsequently collaborated with the college to develop the new BA (Hons) Acting for Screen and Devised Performance.

Teaching Area

Acting for Screen and Devised Performance

Qualifications

Professorship – York St John University (2014)