Suggestions
Sophie Reynolds
Head of Collections, Interpretation & Engagement at Jane Austen's House
Sophie Reynolds is a seasoned museum and heritage expert with a keen interest in interpretation, events, and performance.
With a decade of experience in curating festivals and special events at the renowned V&A, Sophie now holds a pivotal role as the head of Collections, Interpretation, and Engagement at Jane Austen's House in Chawton, a globally cherished Austen landmark.
Her educational journey includes a BA in English, Writing, and Performance from the University of York, followed by an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Sophie Reynolds has a rich professional background encompassing roles such as Head of Collections, Interpretation & Engagement at Jane Austen's House, Trustee at Winchester Poetry Festival, and Creative Director at The Theatre Courtyard Gallery.
Previously, Sophie has served in various capacities including Freelance writer, poet, and playwright, as well as Festival Manager at the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance during the London Design Festival.
Her experiences also extend to roles like Poet in Residence at New Diorama Theatre, Development Officer at OffWestEnd.com, and Exhibitions Assistant at Victoria and Albert Museum.
Sophie Reynolds's diverse portfolio reflects a deep-rooted passion for storytelling, history, and the arts, making her a valuable asset in the heritage and cultural sector.
Highlights
Well this is exciting! ‘A Jane Austen Year’ is now on sale for pre-orders. This beautiful coffee table book is a seasonal celebration of Jane Austen’s life, works and legacy, her inspirational home and the Jane Austen's House collection. Featuring lots of gorgeous images by Luke Shears and text/styling by me!
In April Jane Austen's House announced our acquisition of Admiral Sir Francis Austen’s unpublished Memoir and launched a community engagement project to make the first full transcript of the manuscript. The response was incredible - thanks to the amazing press coverage the story went around the world and we were inundated with applications, receiving 2000 emails in the first 24 hours from volunteers who wanted to get involved - the majority of whom had never been to or heard about the House before.
A month on - this project has had its challenges and we have learned so much already, but the best thing has been seeing the incredible enthusiasm that our army of volunteer transcribers has for the project, their joy at taking part and the level of knowledge and expertise that they are bringing to it. There’s still a long way to go before we have a published transcript but it’s a very exciting journey to be on!
The best project team! Rebecca Wood Lizzie Dunford Amelia Harvell Jessica Halmshaw
