Photo credit: Jazamin Sinclair
Collective Encounters is thrilled to announce that Michelle Richards has joined our leadership team as Co-Artistic Director.
Michelle has been an Associate Lead Artist with Collective Encounters since 2021, carving out a unique and specialised part of our programme. She leads projects with young migrants, arts therapy sessions with ethnically minoritised people in the criminal justice system, and the hugely impactful Black Maternal Health project, as well as co-leading innovative workshops, training sessions and performances.
It’s been a long time coming, but as part of our organisational review in 2025, our team agreed it was time to recognise Michelle’s portfolio as a central part of Collective Encounters’ programme and to officially welcome her as a Co-Artistic Director.
As Co-Artistic Director, Michelle will have a particular focus on Racial Justice, as well as continuing to co-lead work across Collective Encounters’ programme, contributing to social justice and social change in the Liverpool City Region using her combined expertise in arts, mental wellbeing, and health promotion.
Michelle joins our other three Co-Artistic Directors: Abi Horsfield (Creative Communities & Youth lead); Marianne Matusz (Creative Development & Women lead); and Aidan Jolly (Research lead).
A creative arts therapist and community artist, Michelle studied a degree in Psychology and Health Studies then went on to train as a Drama Therapist. After this, she worked within Social Services in several roles including work with looked after young people, roles in mental health development and health promotion.
In recent years her work has concentrated on working through arts-based practice, supporting individuals and groups to explore issues and enrich their lives by developing life skills and insight through creative engagement.
Learn more about Michelle’s practice by taking part in our upcoming ‘Theatre from Lived Experience’ Masterclass (12 March, 10am, online), delivered by Co-Artistic Directors Michelle Richards and Marianne Matusz. Full details available here.
