Senior Creative Producer appointed for ambitious creative programme that connects Plymouth’s communities with the sea
Plymouth Culture is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rob Bowman as Senior Creative Producer, where he will lead an exciting programme of creative digital commissions in partnership with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP).
Rob brings over two decades of experience working on large-scale public art projects and digital engagement programmes, making him excellently placed to oversee this ambitious cultural initiative with PSNMP, with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Working closely with Plymouth Culture and its partners, Rob will be responsible for designing and managing a series of innovative projects that will connect Plymouth’s communities with their marine heritage and nature in new and engaging ways.
His appointment marks a significant step in the development of the programme, which will use the latest digital technologies to create immersive experiences that blend art, culture, and the natural environment.
Hannah Harris, CEO of Plymouth Culture, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rob to Plymouth Culture. His extensive experience in leading artistic and digital engagement projects is exactly what we need to drive this exciting programme forward. The creative commissions under his leadership will showcase the rich marine heritage of Plymouth in ways that will inspire, educate, and engage communities across the city.”
Over the next four years, Rob will lead the delivery of cultural commissions, each focusing on themes such as archive & heritage, immersive environments, nature and outdoor installations. Projects will include community engagement initiatives, encouraging local residents to participate in the creative process and co-create the artistic outputs.
The work is part of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park’s Horizons Project to create the UK’s first National Marine Park, forging a new relationship between the city and the sea.
Rob Bowman, Senior Creative Producer, said: “This is an extraordinary opportunity to fuse culture, heritage, and digital innovation, creating experiences that will reconnect people with their marine surroundings in Plymouth. I’m excited to be part of a programme that will encourage communities to explore their cultural identity in new and meaningful ways.”
Rob’s background includes working as Head of Programmes and Production at Artangel (2007-2015), where he produced high-profile site-specific commissions such as Susan Philipsz’s ‘Surround Me’ and Roger Hiorns’ ‘Seizure’, both instrumental in the artists’ nominations for the Turner Prize.
Rob also curated exhibitions at the ICA London and Modern Art Oxford. In 2015, he moved to Bristol to serve as Director of Programme at Arnolfini, and later founded Co-Production in 2018, focusing on public realm projects and strategic consultancy for the museums and galleries sector.
Plymouth Culture, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, and Plymouth City Council are excited to see how these new projects will push the boundaries of digital engagement, create lasting cultural connections, and enhance Plymouth’s relationship with its marine environment.
The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park Horizons project has been made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players with £11.6million of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
About Plymouth Culture
Plymouth Culture is the sector support agency for culture and creatives in Plymouth. Plymouth Culture is an independent charity that is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), therefore we support ACE’s strategy to protect and develop the arts and cultural ecology.
We are also partly funded by Plymouth City Council and we receive funds from varied organisations to deliver specific projects that generate work opportunities for creatives in the city.
About Plymouth Sound National Marine Park
Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP) is situated in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, and is the first of its kind in the UK.
The £22 million transformational five-year programme has been made possible through an £11.6 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund which has been match funded through The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Youth Invest Fund and Plymouth City Council.
Throughout the five-year programme, PSNMP aims to involve every citizen in Plymouth, reconnecting them with its rich natural and historic heritage through inclusive activity, digital and capital projects and a pioneering new approach to protecting and restoring the amazing heritage of Plymouth Sound.
Ultimately, PSNMP aims to transform the lives of its residents and beyond, through forging a new and sustainable relationship with the sea through its unique approach to marine citizenship.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
About the Heritage Horizon Awards
The Heritage Horizon Awards were developed to support innovative projects that would transform lives and economies, and revolutionise UK heritage. Plymouth Sound National Marine Park is one of five ambitious projects across the UK.
Grants of up to £12.4m have been awarded to three environment projects, including Cairngorms 2030, which is a large-scale partnership project to preserve the National Park’s outstanding landscape, Peatland Progress and the UK’s first Marine Park in Plymouth.
