The Certificate in Arts Management course involved a work placement. At that stage I knew I was interested in music, education and inclusion and I wanted to work at grass roots level, so I chose Carnival Collective who are a 50 piece carnival band and arts organisation. From this volunteer position I was involved with them for 5 years in various guises, eventually as the General Manager. In this role I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organisation – funding applications, performances (in the UK and Europe), workshops, meetings, accounts and managing staff. At worst it was like being a mum, bank manager and shepherd to 50 teenagers; at best it was like hanging out with 50 of the most fun, creative and friendly bunch of people you could ever meet.

During my time at Carnival Collective my creative itch became too great to ignore. I could no longer justify a career that involved only supporting others’ creativity whilst denying my own. After trying various art forms I found Kim Thittichai’s Experimental Textiles course. I’d been surrounded by textiles as a child so it was no surprise that experimental textiles appealed to me. This really started my exploration of crafts as a whole.

Whist at Carnival Collective I also worked as Project Researcher for West Kent Arts Partnership’s pilot Trade in Hands (Making It) project. The aim was to introduce targeted communities to a traditional craft based skills and activities. A major feature of this project was co-ordinating the partners to deliver joint initiatives which involved negotiation between the four arts officers, the artists/ craft workers, the partner organisations, Community Development Workers and community members.