In Conversation With... Matt Collier
Earlier this year, we welcomed our Head of Development Matt Collier. A lover of culture and an advocate for the arts, we decided it was about time we sat down with Matt to hear about his work and his career so far.
Written by Matt Collier
Describe a day in the life of a Head of Development.
The only consistent part of my day, would be that it starts with a coffee, and 20-30 minutes scanning what’s going on in the world, and across the sector.
From then on, it’s anyone’s guess – it’s one of the joys of my job. I love how diverse my role is, and how no two days are the same. It can come with challenges, and sometimes the scope makes it difficult to maintain focus, but I’ve got a lot better at that as I’ve grown older!
What three skills do you think are most important in your role?
The first and probably the most important one is listening. Development is all about connections, between people, opportunities, shared needs etc. – so listening and understanding is essential. I would also say persistence/resilience. Anyone who’s worked in fundraising knows it can be really hard, and sometimes rejection is a big part of it – but you have to keep your head up, keep learning and keep pushing! The last one would be passion. As cliche as it sounds, it’s really hard to generate support from others in a cause, if you have no interest in it. I’ve always been amazed by the emotion and response that Arts/Culture draws from people, and how it can generate impact way beyond face value.
What has been the highlight (to date) of your time at Leeds Heritage Theatres?
It sounds like an obvious one, but seeing our venues full of people experiencing whatever it is on the stage/screen. You really do experience why culture is so important, and how it means something different to each person in the room!
Matt at an event for Fabergé at Castle Howard
Do you have any personal career highlights in your time before LHT?
I always struggle with this question. During the pandemic I was managing a membership scheme as part of my role – and I felt so lucky to have the chance to speak to members all day every day, checking up on them, answering their questions and sometimes we even helped do their shopping! We did weekly virtual talks, concerts… which sometimes felt like a slog. But when things eventually started to return to normal, our team received an outpouring of gratitude from members for keeping them smiling through the bad days, brains active, and generally providing positive distractions when there wasn’t a huge amount to be happy about. It felt like a true community, almost an extension of family – and I’ll always be really proud of that.
But I couldn’t also go without saying a standout highlight, would be from my time at Castle Howard when we hosted the Arctic Monkeys for a music video shoot. Those of us involved in pulling it all together all learnt a huge amount, VERY quickly – but it ended up being a really amazing experience, and the video was also shot in a 360-degree style which meant we all ended up in it! (Also meeting teenage heroes was secret internal scream moment).
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about working in a similar role?
I would say do it. The culture sector needs diversity, new perspectives and varying experience. There’s no one way to get into this kind of job – but if you do, never take it for granted!
Matt on set for the Arctic Monkeys shoot
Matt’s favourite things
Favourite venue – The Grand, The Varieties, Hyde Park? Why?
It’s a tough question… I feel like I’m being asked to pick a favourite child!
I think I would have to say The Picture House (sorry theatres – I love you too!). Probably because I used to live around the corner, as have so many ex-Leeds students, and it’s clearly a place that means so much to so many, I feel really lucky to get to be a part of its story.
Favourite story about that venue?
I recently visited The Picture House with a friend who told me it’s where her parents used to date when they were younger, and her grandparents before that?! It made me realise how central the building is to the community, and how many people who now live all over the world have been on a date there, a family trip, or a solo indulgence – it really warmed my heart hearing it!
Favourite arts experience you’ve had?
Another hard question! I would say my favourite live act to have seen recently, was actually a classical music concert… (My Dad was a classical musician, so I was brought up listening to Brahms blasting through the house at 8am on Saturday for many years growing up).
I was travelling around the Pacific Northwest in the USA with my partner, and I took myself off to see the Seattle Symphony on my own one night – it was honestly some of the best live music I’ve ever seen, they got an 8-minute standing ovation?! (Yes, I ended up timing it!)
Favourite thing to do on a day off?
It would depend on the day… I’ve always enjoyed being outside, I do a fair bit of hiking, watersports, running. So, a perfect day would be being out on the water or up a mountain in the sun – and then fitting in a pint (or two) and a pizza to finish the day off.
What would you be doing if not in your current role?
I think if I was to re-train, I’d love to be a Curator. Working in Heritage for a long time meant I was surrounded by amazing places and objects, which tell equally amazing stories – and connect us to the people we read about in books (the good and the bad). I was always so inspired by the people working in those roles, and the passion they had for what they did!
So yes – stick me in an archive with some dusty pottery and I’d be very happy!
Matt floating through the Lake District
Matt at the Museums + Heritage Awards with the Castle Howard team
