Georgia: My Apprenticeship

Having just completed my apprenticeship here at Making Space, I thought that I would reflect on the highlights of the past year, giving you an insight of what it is like to work as a young person within the creative sector!

Over the last year, whilst undertaking the Community Arts Administration qualification, Making Space has supported me in the development of skills which are needed in both marketing and administration roles within a creative organisation; sending me on training opportunities and allowing me the opportunity to achieve my Gold Arts Award. This has been a huge help which I’m sure will benefit my future immensely.

The opportunity to achieve my Gold Arts Award, also has gone hand in hand with the chance to participate in the Beginners Jewellery course here at Making Space for 2 terms and attending New Designers 2016. Both of these are incredible opportunities and have taught me new skills for the future.

As my official job title is, Visual Arts Project Assistant, I have had some wonderful opportunities to assist in workshop environments and support with co-ordination of events. I’ve had the chance to learn how important the behind the scenes organisation is to the success of the event, as well as, how important having a business mindset is to becoming a freelancer; something that after the year I’ve had working within a craft organisation, I am increasingly going to thrive to achieve in the future.

Through these experiences, I have learnt many transferable skills. Ensuring I am equipped with all the possible attractive qualities, that will make me employable once I leave this apprenticeship.

Working on community and outreach projects such as Reach Out, Make Do and Mend and Make Your Mark, has taught me the value of visual arts and craft. How being creative can really make a difference within the community and to an individual. This is what I would say has been the most inspirational part of my role here, alongside the opportunities to attend conferences such as the Arts & Health conference at the De Le Warr Pavilion, which again, was inspirational.

The event co-ordination of Open Studios, even though a fantastic, vibrant and successful event, challenged me to push myself in new areas of working within the creative sector. Helping me to reflect on experiences and how I can develop these for future events I may be a part of.

Alongside the on-job side of my apprenticeship here at Making Space, I also undertook off-job training with Artswork. In a cohort of 11 other young people, undertaking the same apprenticeship within various creative organisations in the region, we went for bi-weekly training sessions covering the Creative and Cultural Industries. This has been the most interesting part for me, learning entirely about the sector that I want to build my career within. Building on my confidence and skills, to know the sector inside and out, before I leave the apprenticeship. Also with the appearance of guest speakers at most training sessions, it has been a real insight into top professionals lives within different creative organisation’s.

The support in which Artswork has offered me over the last year has been incredible, ensuring that I have had the best experience I could’ve had during this apprenticeship.

Working within the creative industries as a young individual has taught me how important it is to get your voice heard, and that getting your foot in the door, whether that’s volunteering or apprenticeships can offer you amazing opportunities for the future. Equipping you with one of the hardest thing to achieve as a young person, a year’s worth of work experience.