FREELANCE CREATIVE (MILLY KIRBY)

I love using my experience and skills to enable artists to have the time and capacity to be creative.

I have a strong background within a diverse range of roles in the creative sector. Currently I am supporting a variety of organisations and individual artists, providing freelance administration and project coordination, website management and digital marketing.

After graduating from Norwich University of the Arts with a BA in Visual Studies in 2010, I worked as Education Officer for Cinema City, with Norfolk & Norwich Festival on their Festival Bridge programme, and as a Producer for the Young Norfolk Arts Festival. I have worked on a range of archive film projects with the East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA) and British Film Institute (BFI).

I’m also studying for an MA in Gender Studies from the University of East Anglia.

My personal creative interests are in film and music, and I am passionate about the benefits creativity and culture can have on both individuals and communities.

My pronouns are they/them

Current freelance roles:

  • Project Coordinator, website management and marketing for Reel Connections CIC

  • Social media and marketing for SOUNDYARD

  • Administration, website management and marketing for neurodivergent artists and creatives

Get in touch with me to discuss a project at millyfkirby@gmail.com

Photo by Katherine Mager

MUSICIAN (MILLY HIRST)

Milly Hirst is a singer and songwriter based in Norwich, UK.

Their debut self-titled EP was released in 2012 through independent record label Bare Feet Records, as well as the live album Equator recorded and produced by Barn Recordings. The single ‘Heptonstall Old Church’ was released in 2013 and chosen as the ‘Headphone Moment’ on Lauren Laverne’s BBC6 Music. 

Since then, Milly has focused on specific songwriting and sound projects, often inspired by nature, local history and a sense of place. Producing songs and material for projects such as Norfolk & Norwich Festival’s Nature Connects Us, BFI Britain on Film, and the WW1 legacy project Fiercest Light with 14-18 NOW.

They also provide vocals for other bands and musicians, most recently with alternative/classical/trip-hop outfit Wooden Arms and the ambient/drone/lo-fi band BROADS.

In 2019 they started working with BROADS on a body of music inspired by locations and archive films from across Norfolk. The album ‘Ollust’ was released in April 2020.

Photo by Katherine Mager

Reviews;

Heptonstall Old Church; "Stunning track" - Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music

David Kushar for Spiral Earth describing Milly's debut 5 track EP; 'mature', 'deeply meditative' and 'an inspiring debut'.

Heidi Maunder reviewing the EP for danceyrselfclean.com; ‘There is nothing more satisfying than listening to a new artist and being able to hear the effort and soul they have poured into making their music. That is what I get from listening to Milly Hirst. The precision in their musical arrangement and imagination in lyrics, which speak of love and longing, is powerful throughout the record. The tone, lyrics and gentle pluck of guitar arrange their songs so sweetly they could be lullabies. There is a warmth and maturity in their vocals and lyrics that reflect emotional capacity far beyond their years, and it is that which makes me listen to them over and over again…'

'Milly Hirst’s début EP is just gorgeous. I liken it to Laura Marling, soft by acoustics but moving, soothing, and just plain charming.' Bedmagazine.com

‘Hirst sings with their soul, of love, longing, pain, melancholy and joy. It’s close your eyes and sing-along as it washes over you music. “Rose”, in particular, is sublime. As delicate as it’s subject, wistful and heartfelt it leads you, floating to meet this Rose, to see her and understand her. Its porcelain fragility is divine.’ Alphabetbands.com