Hello, I’m Ben

a London-based professional with a career rooted in the arts and cultural sector. I work as a freelancer with a focus on helping organisations and individuals thrive. This page gives you an insight into my career and what I can offer.

Portrait of a smiling man with glasses, a beard, and mustache, wearing a plaid shirt, standing outdoors in front of blurred greenery and a brick building.
A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a gray t-shirt and a smart watch, sitting at a table with a blue coffee mug, smiling in a room with potted plants.
A smiling middle-aged man with glasses, a beard, and short hair, wearing a dark jacket and a light gray t-shirt, standing in a bright room with a plant in the background.

Professional Background

I’m an experienced, senior professional with significant experience in ticketing, technology, marketing & communications, leadership, people development and recruitment.

I have a strong interest in technology and how it can be used in the context of arts and culture. Earlier in my career I spent time working in venues across all aspects of the audience experience.

I joined Spektrix when it was a small startup, having previously been a client whilst working at ‘The Place’ contemporary dance theatre. As a client, I led a move from Databox over to Spektrix. During 12 years with the company, I worked in many roles across support, business development, implementation, marketing, communications and team management.

During my tenure I personally signed 40+ venues to make the move over from vendors including Tessitura, AudienceView, Patron Edge, Patronbase, Databox and ProVenue Max, going on to work with many of them to lead their implementation. Signed client highlights include Barbican Centre, B:Music, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Bristol Beacon, Runaway Entertainment, Cuffe & Taylor, Hackney Empire and MAC Birmingham.

Ben Park and colleagues at the Ticketing Australia Conference

At the Ticketing Australia conference

I led many major initiatives for the business including combining regional marketing teams into a single global operation, building and running sales teams and managing a whole-business CRM & website migration from Salesforce to HubSpot. I held accountability for UK business growth, directed a global sponsorship programme and took the business to Australia, launching the brand for the first time at the Ticketing Australia conference.

I've worked with hundreds of arts organisations, helping them pinpoint and solve their biggest challenges. My experience has given me a deep understanding of what the sector does brilliantly—and where opportunities lie for improvement. I love using this knowledge to help arts organisations and suppliers enhance their processes, technology, and audience engagement, which improves the sector for everoyne.

I help teams win business. I’ve supported first-time salespeople to become highly effective and built repeatable processes to win business. I held accountability for all marketing activity, working with external agencies to implement account-based sales strategies that supercharged client growth.

I designed and led the global sponsorship programme, securing appearances at over 30 events annually in the UK. Ireland, USA, Canada and Australia. My approach to sponsorships is to lead with high quality, relevant content that producers and delegates value. Through careful stewardship, I enabled Spektrix to deliver content to thousands of delegates that gave delegates a meaningful, positive impression of the brand.

I'm an experienced, empathetic leader who helps individuals and teams overcome challenges. I love helping people unlock their own strengths and use them to drive personal and professional growth.

For the full rundown, take a look at my LinkedIn profile.

Celebrating with the producers and cast of Magic Mike, Las Vegas

With the cast & producers of Magic Mike Live, Las Vegas

A photo of Teror Basilica, taken by Ben
Two men smiling outdoors in front of a historic church with a clock tower and trees, one with glasses and a beard, the other with sunglasses and a long beard.

Personal Background

I live in South East London with my partner, Amit. We are keen amateur photographers, love to travel and spend time cooking, visiting family and all the usual middle-aged things. I’ve also discovered that as I’m hurtling further into adulthood, looking after myself is important to remain alive, so I try to stay as fit and active as I can!

The arts are a big part of my personal life, too. I sang in choirs and played in orchestras for many years and now as an adult I still enjoy going to performances and shows. When visiting venues for work, if I get the chance to see something on the programme, I’ll always take the opportunity. I think seeing a piece of art I wouldn't naturally choose is one of the best ways to keep an open mind. Especially now.

Why I do what I do

After 20 years of working in-house, I realised that the work that gives me the most energy and satisfaction is spent partnering with many different organisations and people. I love being invited into an organisation, learning about its challenges and offering a fresh perspective drawing on my own experience and sector knowledge. Freelancing is the way I can do this best, providing a flexible and impactful service.

A man and a young boy dressed in formal attire, standing together inside a building with a beige wall and a red directional sign in the background.
A young woman and a young man each holding a violin. The woman is standing while the man is seated. They are both smiling and looking at the camera with a warm-toned background.

A much younger Ben Park, with his Dad Patrick Park- about to perform with choirs from ‘Staffordshire Performing Arts’ at the Royal Festival Hall, 1987

A teenage Ben Park with friend Jackie Oates, circa 1998.

A pair of hands holding a coffee cup

Let's Continue the Conversation

Get in touch for a no-obligation, 30-minute call to explore how we could work together. I can work on work on a fixed-project basis, a retainer, or something more flexible. I'll also consider working in-house on a fractional or part-time basis.