Peculiar Productions was set up in August 2005. After many years of working separately in the fields of arts and education, we decided to combine all of our skills and set up Peculiar Productions, with a strong desire to create opportunities for all to be inspired to learn, using the arts as our tool.

Julia Fraser - Creative Director

Since graduating from Middlesex University having studied performing arts, Julia has devoted her working life to the combination of arts and education.

She began as a freelance artist directing and performing and as a teacher, teaching music, dance and drama in a variety of schools, with a variety of ages and abilities. She then took up the post of Performing Arts teacher at Luton Sixth Form College where she was instrumental in the setting up and running of new courses, including an HND joint with the university.

While doing this, she also held the post of Artistic Director for Bedfordshire Youth Opera and worked with this company for nine years as vocal coach, chorus master, choreographer and director, on large-scale and small touring productions. The production of Sweeney Todd that she directed in 2001 was nominated for an East of England Arts award for 'The Best Night Out'. Julia re-took up the post of Artistic Director for the company in 2008.

Julia then became Creative Arts Coordinator for Bedfordshire County Council. This post later became the County Arts Officer where Julia was responsible for the strategic development of high quality arts provision across the County, specifically in schools. The post was also responsible for running an arts venue.

Julia left Bedfordshire County Council in May 2005 Julia and took up the post of music coordinator at Bushmead Primary School until April 2009. While she was there, she wrote and implemented an original scheme of work for Key Stage 2 music, ran a very successful and busy two-part choir with 60 members, and over a quarter of the children Julia taught took part in an out-of-hours music activity.

As well as this, Julia has taken on a variety of other work including Creative Arts Consultant to Wootton Upper School and Performing Arts College (providing a large majority of their outreach work), coordinator of the Childrens’ University Performing Arts strand, private vocal coach and has worked as a mentor for Artis Education.

Over the years, Julia has taught all three art forms to all ages and to a wide spectrum of abilities.

Amy Slack – Business Director

Since graduating from Cardiff University having studied Music, Amy explored the world of music and education from an events and administration perspective.

Amy took on the role of Community Music Coordinator for Bedfordshire Music where she was responsible for organising holiday music courses for over 600 children, weekly Saturday morning music centres across five venues, international touring for the County Youth Orchestra and Concert Band and a variety of additional cross-arts activities throughout the year.

In addition to this, Amy was constantly designing and selling her own individual products including large-scale art work. Amy has provided visual art and craft workshops across Bedfordshire for a number of different organisations and has worked with children between the ages of 5 and 13. These workshops include working with a variety of traditional art materials, fabric and recycled household junk in a unique and creative way.

In November 2004, she became a freelance Event Organiser and secured an eight month contract with Bedfordshire County Council to organise, administrate and stage manage a large-scale concert at the Royal Albert Hall involving over 1000 performers. Amy has recently provided the same service for a similar event in April 2007.

She has also been contracted for the past four years as the Producer of Bedfordshire Youth Opera. This role involves overseeing all administrative and organisational aspects of the opera including budget management, publicity and marketing, programme design, health and safety and front of house management.

Amy was also employed to undertake all the publicity, marketing and event organisation for the 40th Anniversary year of Bedfordshire Music. This included a complete re-design of all their marketing material, website and correspondence, event organisation, all press releases and contact and providing a 5 year marketing strategy.

Amy has a variety of skills and experience in visual art, music and business management.