Tish Francis

Born, raised and educated in Oxfordshire and the University of York, Tish is a director and producer with a successful track-record in the performing arts and charitable sector.  A passionate campaigner she has been associated with launching, regenerating and sustaining a series of significant cultural and community enterprises. 

In London, these included Vauxhall City Farm, Graeae Theatre, Covent Garden Community Association, Diorama Arts, The Almeida Theatre and Shared Experience Theatre’s Soho Laundry Project.

Moving to Oxford, Tish became Director of Oxford Playhouse in 1989, and was jointly responsible for its redevelopment and reopening in 1991, and for leading the theatre’s renaissance thereafter until its 70th anniversary in 2008.  She was a founder of Oxford Inspires and the charitable festival enterprise Oxfordshire 2000, which mounted Oxfordshire's Own Millennium Festival (OOMF!) followed, amongst others, by the 2002 Golden Jubilee and Open City Festival. In 2008 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Arts) by Oxford Brookes University for her contribution to the arts

Tish became co-Director of The Story Museum in 2009, spearheading its capital campaign to find and build a home in the heart of Oxford - a 4 phase £10m development completed in 2020.

Tish lives with her partner Douglas in North Hinksey.