Back in January i became a student again, something unplanned but an opportunity that came my way and seemed to be great timing!

The course is Changing Cultures Programme, an Arts Leadership course, creating leaders within Arts & Culture with a good focus on Social Enterprise. To be honest, initially i was shitting myself about becoming a student again, with my last experience of being a student, my MA in Design many years ago…….an uncomfortable feeling as completely out of my comfort zone and my biggest panic was having to write an assignment again. Added to that feeling, i now needed to balance my business with studying alongside family life.

We began with residentials based in the Lake District at Brathay Hall, a gorgeous setting which helped to ease my worries. I quickly learnt that i was one of the oldest students on the course which added to my thoughts of whether i should be on the course. Thankfully so many of the other students were extremely welcoming, friendly and fantastic to be around all those creative people, from lots of different sectors from Music to Theatre. We began with self-reflection which i personally find easy but to then use that in an assignment was about to prove tricky……

I did however come away from that first residential feeling ignited and also thankful for my previous experience within Arts& Culture and my design career but also eager to learn more and gain more knowledge.

It was extremely timely as i was learning legal structures for Social Enterprise which i would apply to ‘Repair Cafe’ and we were in a great place as a socially engaged project then BANG along came the Pandemic……..

A complete lockdown so it meant all sessions completely cancelled and also my business came to a complete standstill…….

Plan B had to kick in……

First residential at Brathay Hall January 2020

Planning my first installation in the woods……