Moving Forward
I’ll focus on writing a DYCP grant application and a PhD application. Returning to the hose pipe approach in other words prioritizing watering a small corner and a few photographic ‘seedlings’ of the rich garden of opportunities in the short term for longer term opportunities.
I endeavour, over the next four weeks with a definite roof over my head (in addition to facilitating an ongoing workshop with Hen Power in a Supported Living community) to complete both an ACE DYCP application which will enable me to develop some of the elements from my SHIFTS Professional Development Plan further by exploring and experimenting with the possibilities surrounding presenting and exhibiting my own work in combination with using the space for other artists, workshops & talks and thus developing my arts promotion and curatorial skills. I will also be responding to a Northern Bridge callout for a PhD.
So that my housing situation doesn’t slow me down, I have taken the considered risk of signing a lease for a studio in in The Atheneum, Sunderland with Breeze Creatives, thus giving me some stability (and storage for my belongings). Intuitively, I have been thinking of wanting to make more work in and around Sunderland which is why the PhD application (‘Towards an Inclusive Re/Visualization of Women’s Work’) may be a perfect opportunity to pursue.
My current documentary work around Climate and Migrant Justice with and for the No To Hassockfield campaign, for example, has led to meeting Greg Constantine and hearing about his funding pathways for which a PhD could be vital to open up collaborations/fellowships/funding for my ‘personal’ projects in the short to medium term and longer term.
As I get too old to document in harsh environments, more teaching on photography, visual literacy, ethics would be a circular return to my professional roots.
The SHIFTS bursary has given me the confidence to keep working on all the strands I started out with maximizing all my educational achievements since Abitur (A-level) days. Within the context of the various challenging lived experiences I know I CAN make a difference AND earn a modest living through focusing in different seasons on different ‘seedlings’ and areas of the garden of opportunities from photojournalism, to cyanotype/photography workshops, personal projects, community photography and documenting events and weddings.