Mairi Shimmins
Leader of learning (PEP and Community)
Mairi is an inclusive arts practitioner & creative educator with extensive experience supporting learning disabled and neurodivergent artists. They trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating with a First Class BA focused on disability arts, applied theatre and community practice.
Their career spans facilitation, project leadership and creative production across theatre, education and social care. Most recently, they have freelanced as a creative practitioner working across the inclusive arts sector in London with organisations including Wac Arts and FESTIVAL.ORG, and have held several roles with the Baked Bean Charity, directing performances, leading performer training and managing accessible events including inclusive club nights co-produced with a learning disabled DJ collective.
As SEND Programmes Manager at Go Live Theatre Projects, Mairi led participatory arts and employability projects in partnership with SEND schools, colleges and major cultural institutions including Shakespeare's Globe and several West End musicals. Their work is rooted in co-creation, person centred practice and improving access to creative and professional opportunities for learning disabled and neurodivergent artists.
