Dr Lauren Baker Mitchell

CC Team Lead

Lauren Baker Mitchell is Senior Research Fellow for Creative Communities at Northumbria University.

Lauren is a specialist in unconventional entrepreneurship, craft innovation, and identity. She brings an incredible breadth of knowledge to the programme, as well as a rich experience of working with external partners and co-creating research that values theory and practice. Drawing on years of working collaboratively within arts organisations, with craft freelancers and practitioners, and across academia, Lauren values the relationships and stories that emerge when working in an open-facing and curious manner.

Lauren joins us from Creative Fuse North East where she was Innovation and Research Associate. Previously Lauren completed her doctoral studies at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD), University of Dundee and was a member of the Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) creative economy knowledge hub, where her research explored the role of organisational programmes in the development of the entrepreneurial craft profiles of makers in Scotland.

Originally trained as a textile designer, Lauren has significant experience in the craft sector as a maker which she has been able to share with others through the development of workshops, exhibitions, and creative events. Lauren’s professional background includes curatorial practice in both public and private galleries and museums, as well as freelance workshop facilitation in textiles, ceramics and paper craft.