Finding support, confidence and career ambition through Wyldwood Arts

Lia Morgan is working as Company Assistant at Wyldwood Arts and joined through the Kickstart Scheme. She has loved the opportunity to find out more about what’s going on in her community and has had the opportunity to develop lots of new skills from event organising to graphic design - all whilst juggling caring for a young daughter too! She’s had great support from the team at Wyldwood and we’re delighted to hear Lia’s contract has been extended so she can continue to develop her career in the arts and cultural sector. Read on to find out more.

What have you been doing in your role?

My job role at Wyldwood Arts is Company Assistant. I do a variety of jobs, which differ from day to day. Some days, I will be promoting events that we have coming up over all of our social media channels and creating graphics to interact with the community online, but I have also been the lead on projects we have created too. I also assist in workshops, attend events and create promo materials like flyers, posters, etc!

What skills or interests did you bring to the role?

I have always been interested in Art & Design, which was what I actually studied in college. I never had the opportunity to work in a role that allowed me to be a part of the Arts sector until my role at Wyldwood Arts was advertised. I love creating graphics – so any social media posts, flyers, business cards, etc. that you see by Wyldwood is probably made by me!

What has been the best thing about your role?

A big thing for me was finding people that were interested in the Arts sector within my community, and working at Wyldwood Arts has really shown me how many amazingly talented people we have right on our doorstep.

Is there anything you are particularly proud of?

There isn’t really one thing in particular that I am proud of – but to see things printed for promos or events with graphics on that I have created is really nice!

What’s been the trickiest or challenging thing about your job? How did you manage it?

The most challenging thing about my job was that after not working for roughly 3 years due to having my daughter, I needed to throw myself back into the working lifestyle. It was really daunting to start a new job with new people and in a different sector to what I was used to. But in doing so, I have met some amazing people and have learnt so many new things (and I’m still learning!)

Have you felt supported in your placement?

Everybody at Wyldwood Arts has always been so welcoming and supportive from the beginning. I knew that if there was anything I needed that I just had to ask and everyone was happy to help!

Had you thought about working in arts and culture sector before this kickstart opportunity came up?

I always wanted to work within the arts and culture sector but I never knew how or where to start – as soon as jobs were advertised, they were gone! And now I have a job with an arts company I can 100% see why.

Are you more aware of what is happening locally to you now?

Definitely! I am so much more aware of the events and artists in my local area.

What next?

My Kickstart placement ended at the beginning of May 2022. I was offered a new contract with Wyldwood Arts for 16 hours per week and instantly took it! It has made me realise that I do not want to go back to working in retail/hospitality like I used to – I didn’t think I would ever enjoy a job as much as I do now.

What impact has it had on you? (e.g confidence, new skills or a clearer sense of direction)

A big thing for me was having the confidence to work in the arts and culture sector – I guess we are all our biggest critic in that sense, and that’s what my biggest worry was. Since I made the jump and pushed myself to do something I knew I’d enjoy, I don’t regret it one bit. It’s given me the confidence and knowledge to see that I am exactly where I want to be in regards to where I work and where I would like to stay.

What do you want to do next?

I know that I want to stay doing what I am doing now with creating graphics, flyers, posters and working across social media platforms (and even leading projects!). It may mean that I eventually turn into a freelance artist doing this in the future but for right now I don’t want to rush into anything!

Do you have any tips for someone who might want to work in an arts organisation/business?

Grow your connections – sometimes it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know! I started off knowing next to nothing apart from the fact that I knew I had a passion for art. After 8 months of being within the sector I have taken any and every opportunity I have been given and in turn have gotten to know so many wonderful people that work in a variety of different ways. It’s almost like stepping into a different world entirely!

Are there any organisations in Glos you you’d recommend people seek out?

CreateGlos have been absolutely fantastic!

Do you think you need a degree to work in this sector?

Personally, I don’t – and I guess I am living proof of that. I feel that as long as you have the passion and creativity then that’s the main things you need!

Was Kickstart the answer? If not, what would you see as the best way of taking your first step into the arts and cultural sector?

Kickstart definitely gave me the push I needed and has put me in the right direction. If I didn’t take part in the Kickstart scheme then I wouldn’t be where I am now and I wouldn’t know where I want to be. I think a big question in most peoples lives when they are younger is “What do I want to be when I grow up?” – and for me, Kickstart has helped answer that for me.

To find out more about the kickstart scheme and what the other kickstarters have been involved in read our Kickstart round up here.