"My work to date has been focused on advocating for the intrinsic value of the arts alongside demonstrating its instrumental value. A considerable amount of my work has been in promoting the investment in arts and culture to funders, articulating the arts as an enabler to deliver social and economic objectives. I am a firm believer in the value of arts and culture and their significance in people's lives. " 

James Gough, Director of GJG Consultancy. 

James Gough is Director of GJG . James has over 25 years experience in cultural management. He is an experienced cultural strategist with a mix of organisational leadership, marketing and audience development, producing, public engagement, facilitation, research and financial management experience gained working in the subsidised arts, commercial, and local authority sectors. He specialises in strategic planning, organisational change and public engagement projects delivering work at both a regional and national level. 

James was Director of Audiences South, the regional audience development agency working to increase engagement in cultural activity in the South East, for six years.  He worked as a freelance marketing consultant; for Tickets.com as an internet ticket sales consultant; and as marketing manager at both Salisbury Playhouse and the Watermill Theatre

James was  the first Executive Director for Southampton Cultural Development Trust from 2015 to July 2019. Previously, he was Deputy CEO at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton. Prior to that, he was General Manager at the Corn Exchange and New Greenham Arts in Newbury. In 2012 he was Creative Producer for Parrabbola on Margate Hosts The Boat Project working with cultural partners, local authorities, and the Arts Council to deliver a four-day celebration as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

James was Vice Chair of Network, the national agency dedicated to collaborative audience development and has sat on a number of different arts organisations’ boards including currently Hoodwink Theatre Company.  James has lectured on Audience Development to MA and BA students at the University of Sussex, Central School of Speech and Drama and London South Bank University, and is a guest speaker on University of Southampton's How The Arts Work module.