Key Skills:

Planning

Building a network

Collaboration

Writing applications

Budgeting

Marketing

 

The pop up space is based in the Whitgift Shopping Centre in Croydon, we’ll be taking over an empty retail unit and turning it into an arts space that we will run a series of workshops from. Our primary aim to to engage with young people in the area; there is an age old problem of large groups of young people hanging around the shopping centre with very little to do which often causes tension with other members of the public. The space will also be used as an exhibition space for the works made during workshops and for the artist in residence that will work there. In addition to this there is an event space that will be used for film screenings and performances and a workspace that will be home to a local arts organisation and the planning team for the Croydon Biennale.

 

My role as project manager has required the utilisation of several skills, the most important of which I believe to be: planning, building a network, collaboration, writing a funding application, budgeting and marketing.

 

Planning - This has been the main skill demonstrated in this project so far as we are now just coming to the stage of taking on the lease for the space, up to now we had to decide on the concept by seeing a particular need and finding a way to fulfil it, work out what activities will facilitate that need, build a structure and a programme to fit everything into and decide who we will need to work with. Through extensive planning I had made provision to develop my artistic practice and the practice of other artists that will be involved.

 

Building a network - Getting in touch with several different types of organisations has been an integral part of this project, we do not want to work in isolation as the project itself is about engagement so having a strong network right from the beginning has been extremely important. Our network covers youth organisation, arts organisations, visual artists, writers, the research department at Kingston university, several departments in the local council and local schools. Having a strong network will enable more opportunities as a vast skill base is accessible.

 

Collaboration - Our main partners are the local council and Turf Projects, we having been planning together since the beginning and will continue to work collaboratively as the project progresses. Other key collaborations include working with arts organisations and individual artists, though we have done a little planning together our main collaboration will take place in the space where we will facilitate workshops together, have exhibitions and put on events. I believe this will contribute to the development of practices of all those involved.

 

Writing applications - Funding is a key aspect for this project, as we want it to be free and accessible to the public we won’t have a direct income from the service we’re providing, the ability to write successful applications is an invaluable skill that I will contribute to a sustainable practice. I have learnt a lot from writing this application and though I’m not sure if we have been successful yet we will receive feedback which will help immensely for the next application.

 

Budgeting - As the project is running for at least 6 months I have made an extensive budget, including all set up costs and refitting the space, though the initial budget attempts to allow for all eventualities I will need to maintain a close check on funds to ensure we stick to the budget, this skill is highly transferrable.

 

Marketing - Using social media and growing a strong online presence and well as building a user friendly website will be the first part of our marketing plan, we are currently working on creating a brand that will unify all aspects of the project and appeal to a wide audience. Through marketing I will develop my computing and design skills which again is transferrable to future projects.

 

This project will continue for at least 6 months after graduation and from this we hope to gather enough feedback to write a strong report for us to continue our work in a more permanent location. Throughout the project I will need to continue to coordinate the running of the programme as well as facilitating several workshops, putting together the exhibitions and events and continuing to grow our presence and impact. This is an incredibly exciting project that Croydon is in much need of.