New Producers Spotlight: Owenia Francis

As our New Producers 2025 spotlight series continues, we’re excited to introduce more of the incredible creatives across the Black Country.

Today, meet Owenia Francis – a Black Country based creative with a love of immersive storytelling, ecological thinking, and digital innovation. Through New Producers, Owenia is developing the tools to turn big ideas into engaging experiences that connect communities.

A school trip turned time machine

“After reading Edith Nesbitt’s The Railway Children in Year 2, we all dressed in 1905 attire and took a steam train by the riverside. Onlookers would have seen lines of Gingham dresses, satchels and waistcoats marching two by two. To extend the immersion, we went far away from the main roads, imagined finding a time machine and being transported to somewhere old, but new. Ever since, if anyone mentions the novel that school trip is the first thought in my mind.”

Stories in nature

“My most meaningful cultural experience was when I took part in a ‘Fantasy Fiction and Forest Ecology’ workshop at uni. We toured Ruskin Land in the Wyre Forest while reading, and even tried apple pressing – which is much easier than it looks. Viewing the experience through an ecological lens made me really think about further steps audiences can take beyond the event, like conservation.”

Why Owenia joined New Producers

“I applied for New Producers to learn the nuts and bolts of creative production. As a creative, working with teams is a fundamental part of the process. Wanting to know how others achieved their goals encouraged me to dive into aspects I was less familiar with. Now, it’s like a new world has opened up and I can’t wait to put this knowledge into action.”

Learning through collaboration

“Our guest speaker Jasmine Gardosi talked about how important community is in shaping an artist and vice versa. It’s really inspiring to hear how projects made through partnerships can lead on to pivotal moments in someone’s journey. These opportunities then spark even more conversations to spur on other projects — a self-renewable cycle of culture really.”

On the creative strength of the Black Country

“ The Black Country really is full of the most talented thinkers and makers. I love that there’s always something going on at one of the many venues across the region and people are so keen to help others. We don’t exist in isolation and it’s promising to see such a high level of collaboration between organisations and creatives themselves.”

Looking ahead: heritage meets virtual worlds

“In 5 years’ time, I want to develop a classic heritage project with a twist. I really love the digital space and how it can be used to enhance the ways that people experience exhibitions. Examining the role virtual worlds play within non-fiction narration is also something I would like to explore. Putting my obsession with videogame stories to good use in the real world would be extremely rewarding.”

And finally, a fun fact…

“A surprising fact is I used to be a junior athlete. Sprints and high-jump are now a world away but I like to think all that energy still fuels my more creative pursuits.”

From heritage to virtual worlds, forest trails to digital storytelling, we can’t wait to see how her creative ideas grow and evolve.

This programme has been delivered by Wolverhampton Arts Centre and China Plate Theatre.