Part of Eurodesk’s Time to Move 2020 campaign, 'The Art of Working (Internationally)' was a series of short documentary films featuring interviews and work from three UK artists. The interviews focus on the influence and impact of having international experiences either through festivals, exhibitions, performances or residencies.

I stumbled upon this opportunity on ArtsJobs while serving my notice period at a corporate job I had been in for four years—my first position after university. I had decided to resign due to a lack of ambition and drive in that sector, and the increasingly toxic environment that had started to affect me negatively. My notice period afforded me time to seek opportunities that would push me beyond my comfort zone and immerse me fully in the arts.

Last year I had the privilege of being part of a cohort of curators and artists awarded an international travel bursary, courtesy of Black Curatorial Ltd and their visionary 'Fly Me Out Fund'. The fund's mission is to encourage more Black curators based in the UK, and artists and curators from Barbados and Jamaica to experience new things and support them in their journey to expose new ways in approaching creativity whilst centring centring play and experimentation. This generous support allowed me to travel to Miami in December 2023 for Miami Art Week, where I focused on researching the city’s public art initiatives.

It wasn't just about my dreams, but thinking about the power of care and community in supporting the dreams of others, having conversations and lowering the ladder that was once lowered for me to climb. I've come to realise that the dream is about supporting others. The project I will briefly introduce in the article is a reminder of why I became a curator and supporter of artists in the first place.

In the arts ecosystem, artists are the driving force, without whom there would be no art. Many artists dedicate years to training, and rehearsing, and often engage through unpaid labour to reach where they are. Some willingly take pay cuts for the love of their craft, only to still face unwarranted accusations of greed.

Visual art serves as therapy, promotes well-being, and unites people through enjoyment and storytelling. And for those who are only bothered about money, the creative industries contribute significantly to the economy, with the UK's creative sector alone contributing £109bn in 2021.

Allow yourself the time and space to rest and recharge - this will ensure you're refreshed when you return to creating. If you're overwhelmed with tasks or projects, break them down into manageable chunks. There's nothing wrong with taking things slowly; it gives you more time to reflect on each step of the creative process rather than feeling pressured to rush through them…the rest is BEST.

Despite this painting's sombre mood, there's an underlying message of resilience and hope. The woman's position on the edge of the bed suggests that she's about to rise, ready to face the day ahead. This act of getting out of bed, even when it feels like the hardest thing to do, is a symbol of strength and determination.