Anna Hodgart joins the Platform team

Anna Hodgart has recently joined the Platform team as Performance and Music Programmer and has been involved in programming our new January - June 2023 season. You can see the full programme here or pick up a copy in Platform or around town in cafes and other venues.

It’s great to have you join the team at Platform. Tell us about your previous roles…

I am beyond thrilled to be here! As well as working with Platform I am currently working as Producer for Magnetic North – a theatre company that focuses on multi-artform artist development opportunities and productions. 

Before that I was working on the Tayside Climate Beacon project with a host of brilliant organisations in the Tayside region generating live events around COP 26, and prior to that I worked in Artist Development at National Theatre of Scotland where I ran/programmed their artist residency programme and Just Start Here - a multi-art-form festival. 

I first worked with Platform when I was part of TYCI – an intersectional feminist collective that promoted a lot of gigs, club nights, multi art form events featuring and celebrating the work of women. We even did book launch events – Carrie Brownstein in Glasgow Women’s Library was a highlight! 

 So a lot of my work has focused on multi and cross art form programming, I love it when different art forms jostle up against each other – something quite special happens - and I’m so excited to be able to do that at what is without a doubt my favourite arts centre in the world!

Tell us more about your Platform role…

At Platform I’ll be focusing on music and live performance programming from 2023 onwards - as well as doing a wee bit of strategic work around Platform’s programming priorities, thinking about how we can ensure Platform remains a space for innovative, forward thinking, joyful art making and sharing - for artists and communities and everyone in between! 

I’m really interested in partnership programming – a programme is always strongest when different people’s tastes and opinions form it. 

Which previous projects have been the most memorable?

Of course I have to talk about an event at Platform. I first worked with Platform when I was part of TYCI (shout out to the TYCI gang, forever in my heart!)  and we programmed a festival day at Platform called Girl Gaze curated for, with and celebrating teenage girls- back in 2016. We had zine making and DJs in the café bar, the incredible Law Holt, Bratkus and Heir of the Cursed played, panel discussion and workshops, and we had performances and showed work by Nima Sene , Leyla Josephine, Rachel Maclean, Ruth Mills…amongst others - and in all the nooks and crannies of the building. 

What attracted you to Platform?

I think Platform is the best arts centre in the world! World class music, performance, visual art programmes; regular free/Pay-What-You-Can Taking Part workshops where anyone can come and try their hand at making art, performance or playing music; festival days where all of that merges and comes together; and the strongest relationship with a local community I’ve ever experienced an arts organisation having – no one is doing it like Platform! 

In 2023 I’m really looking forward to Made In Easterhouse commissions and events – we’re going to invite a range of artists to make work with and inspired by the local community which is then presented as part of a multi-artform festival day. A real celebration of Easterhouse and the work Platform does.

What’s the last thing you went to see at the theatre/venue/exhibition?

As I’m about to go see the Christmas show Sleeping Beauty – I can’t wait to feel full of festive cheer!

Are you a Glasgow girl?

I was born in Glasgow and have lived most of my life here – I love the city too much to leave it. If you’re into music and performance there’s just no better place to be. 

Outside of arts stuff I also teach yoga – mostly in the southside of Glasgow where I currently live – and I love hillwalking too. 

Image: Beth Chalmers