How Travel Has Benefitted Me Professionally: 1. Budapest, Hungary
In my previous post, I shared details about an international travel bursary I received last year, courtesy of Black Curatorial’s Fly Me Out Fund and led by their founder Aliyah Hasinah. Building on that, I will be doing a series of reflections on how international travel has influenced my career over nearly a decade and the importance of having resources that support travel for curators and cultural programmers. I firmly believe in the principle of Think Global, Act Local, as much of my work—whether it be programmes, exhibitions, or collaborations, has been enriched by my global experiences. The world, though vast, often feels surprisingly interconnected, offering numerous opportunities to learn and apply new insights within our own communities.
Who is this for? Maybe its for organisations who have the means to fund initiatives that support travel for curators and artists or those who hold the purse strings within organisations to do this for their employees, but may not fully understand the benefits of mobility. Or maybe for those who are contemplating taking the leap to apply for a funded opportunity but are unsure or hesitant. My hope is that this reflection proves valuable, inspiring you to explore the transformative potential of global experiences in your own work and those of employees and colleagues.
01: Budapest, Hungary (2015)
Image: Me in Budapest, taken by fellow participant from Ukraine, Daniel Zhurba.
I had the opportunity to participate in an international artist residency and exchange, courtesy of the ERASMUS+ scheme (which, unfortunately, no longer applies to UK citizens post-Brexit). The project was based in Budapest, Hungary, and focused on exploring public art—both visual and performance—and its impact on cities and society at large. The programme brought together a diverse group of creatives from the UK, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, and Armenia, from different creative disciplines and at varying stages of their careers and practice. The residency involved research, placemaking, and the creation of multiple new works across the city.
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. Even though I was slightly over the age limit for eligibility, and my passport was less than three months from expiry (luckily, I was unaware of the travel rule at the time and the airport workers let me off!), I embarked on this adventure to Hungary alongside a group of artists and curators. This trip proved to be a pivotal moment in my career.
Throughout the project, we spent extensive time outdoors, exploring the beautiful city of Budapest and its diverse range of street art—from sculptures to installations and murals. We explored the city’s history, culture, and art, learning from one another about public art in our respective hometowns. We engaged with locals, collaborated, and created new murals together. A highlight was being interviewed on Hungarian television, with the project being featured across various platforms. By the end of it, I left with a renewed sense of artistic motivation. I gained a wealth of knowledge regarding the logistics, legalities, and processes involved in curating and creating public art spaces. Additionally, I developed a deeper understanding of artists' practices.
The trip was also an excellent opportunity to broaden my cultural awareness. It was my first time knowingly meeting people from Ukraine, Belarus, and Armenia. As part of our activities, we held cultural exchange evenings where we shared unique aspects of our backgrounds, including food and drink. For some participants, this was the first time they had met a black person in real life, and it was evident that their perceptions of me and the accompanying mentor/facilitator from the UK, who was also black, were influenced by media and pop culture. While there were some ignorant questions at first, prejudices dissolved as we worked together and got to know each other better.
A conversation that resonated with me was with an Armenian participant. He shared the difficulties of navigating a lengthy visa process, which had prevented one of his colleagues from joining us. He remarked on how privileged I was to hold a UK passport, highlighting the ease with which I could travel and experience new places—an opportunity he didn’t have as freely. This conversation, along with the realisation that my trip to Hungary marked only my second international travel experience in a decade, got me reflecting on the personal and professional benefits of travel.
Key Takeaways from this experience:
Breaking Out of Comfort Zones: The residency gave me the belief I needed that I had made the right choice in leaving a stagnant corporate career, and dipping my toes in this opportunity gave me the confidence to pursue more opportunities in the arts.
Cultural Exchange: The experience of working with artists from different countries expanded my understanding of public art across different cultural contexts.
Learning from Diversity: Meeting people from diverse backgrounds helped dispel misconceptions, breaking down cultural and racial prejudices.
Flights, hotel accommodation, inner city travel within Budapest, 3 meals per day and materials were covered by ERASMUS + funding. We were required to pay for our own flights and airport transfers within the UK (max value of €170) and later reimbursed. Reimbursement was was given in cash towards the end of the residency.
Here's a highlights video from this particular experience:
Since that experience, international travel has become a regular part of my professional life, whether for research/learning, or to deliver project. Whether its through actively seeking out opportunities or being invited to participate, travelling has greatly expanded my horizons. Over the coming days and weeks, I plan to share more of these experiences to illustrate the benefits and impact travel can have on our careers and others. Travel is vital for personal growth and contributes significantly to our respective industries.
I am, however, mindful of the need to travel more responsibly, considering the environment and the importance of understanding and respecting local cultures and ecologies. For those looking to travel in a more sustainable way, there are excellent resources available— Trippin for example, provides helpful guides on their website: https://trippin.world/travel-tool/sustainable-travel (this was introduced by Black Curatorial when planning my Miami trip last year).