Ben has worked in socially engaged arts practice and outdoor arts for over 20 years, 15 of those as a project manager and producer. His specialism is community engagement, particularly with people and groups who might not think that funded cultural activity is for them. He managed the community programme at the Royal Exchange for 7 years, including the partnership with the Booth Centre a homeless activity centre https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/backstageme. More recently he has helped MIF develop their £12 ticket programme across Greater Manchester (MIF15, Giselle and MIF17) and provided strategic and mentoring support for a range of grassroots organisations.

He was worked as a freelancer with Oily Cart, Cartwheel Arts, Parklife, Manchester City Council, Alexandra Park, Manchester Festival of Nature, Manchester Mega Mela, Creative Partnerships and with Walk the Plank as an associate since 2004 in Liverpool, Preston, Hull and Manchester. Over the last 4 years he has helped develop their programme in Salford https://walktheplank.co.uk/community/, working with a wide range of cultural and community organisations and establishing the Salford Cultural Organisations Network in partnership with Islington Mill. In 2018 Ben took part in an European project exploring iepen mienskip (open community) https://www.tandemforculture.org/programmes/tandem-fryslan/ and is currently part of Creative Embassies https://www.creativeembassies.com