A space that gives by Jaye Boakye

Jaye Boakye spent two months on placement at Artsadmin, from February-April 2024, as part of her degree in Business and Management at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA). She worked with the Communications team as a Marketing Intern, focussing on marketing and audience development for Artsadmin’s canteen residency biome: experiments in radical kinship.

Artsadmin is a space that supports artists in the development and production of their work. Through this placement, it has also supported me in the development and ‘production’ of my new career from birth worker to communications professional! 

On finding out about Artsadmin I was immediately drawn towards its purpose to partner with artists developing work around social and climate justice. These are areas that fuel my learning, productivity, creativity, and endless enthusiasm, so it was clear to me that Artsadmin would be a fulfilling organisation to engage with and that I would naturally seek to offer as much of my skills and talents to.  

I enquired about a placement with Artsadmin through a contact at my university, and to learn more about the company, I visited the Artsadmin Canteen to see biome: forrest, a temporary plant installation. When I met with the Communications Manager to discuss what a placement might look like, they suggested given the personal resonance I had expressed with biome: forrest that I become the Marketing Intern for the next project in the biome: experiments in radical kinship residency.  This is a perfect example of how Artsadmin (and I’ve got to specifically shout out my manager Theo for this!) functions as a values-driven organisation, working with care, support and generosity, right from the off.  

I was welcomed into the team gently and given the space and resources to acquaint myself with all the newness – new place, new people, new processes, new industry. I was then integrated into the biome team with the Producer and Communications Manager by participating in meetings and collaboratively completing tasks for the upcoming project. This included gathering audience data, developing a communications strategy, writing copy, creating the event webpage and social media posts, and designing and distributing an event flyer. We brainstormed together and worked independently, I was given feedback and the opportunity to offer feedback too. I have really valued the learning that accompanies working on one project as I was able to get involved in everything from the expected communications activities, to attending the events, to unexpected tasks like an unforgettable improvised vinyl installation… I thrive on variety and novelty, and this definitely fit the bill! 

Whilst this experience has been a significant professional step for me, what it has taught me stretches well into ‘life lessons’: it has deepened the value I hold in the cultivation of reciprocal spaces that give to me and I wish to give to. With this dynamic as the foundation of my career in communications – and life! – I know much fulfilment, inspiration and generosity lie ahead.

I’ll have ongoing gratitude to Artsadmin for offering me this opportunity and providing me with the resources I needed to access it. Whilst this experience has been a significant professional step for me, what it has taught me stretches well into ‘life lessons’: it has deepened the value I hold in the cultivation of reciprocal spaces that give to me and I wish to give to. With this dynamic as the foundation of my career in communications – and life! – I know much fulfilment, inspiration and generosity lie ahead. I thank Artsadmin, my wonderful manager Theo, Maya Kincaid and Zoë Laureen Palmer for giving all of this to me. It is my sincerest hope that I gave just as much back to you all.