Samora

After graduating from Hertfordshire University with a degree in Fine Art, 25 year old Samora returned to his home town of Wisbech. A keen artist, Samora was eager to work in the arts and develop his practice in community settings. Samora works with ‘found objects’ to form collage and 3D installation; although this art form would seem a perfect fit for working with young people and community groups he found it difficult to find out about opportunities in this arena. As we know, the arts can have a reputation for being perceived as closed or ‘cliquey’ and it is often difficult to seek out opportunities in this field when starting out.

Furthermore, Samora found it difficult to take the jump of establishing himself as a freelance artist with the associated monetary constraints meaning that the pressure to earn money led to artistic aspirations being put on the back burner.

Currently unemployed, Samora was referred to the first Momentum Arts Team East ‘Warm Up’ session in Wisbech. He attended the two days and participated in the motivational and artistic activities provided by the two artists. The workshop enabled Samora to identify his artistic aspirations and discuss them with two freelance artists already working in this field. Having this time to receive information and guidance from two people who had faced the same problems as him was not only invaluable but was also something that the Job Centre and Connexions would be unlikely to have been able to provide.

Following on from the Warm Up Samora was invited to attend a two day CLiP workshop in Wisbech to act as shadow artist alongside two Momentum Arts’ artists. Samora helped with the photography side of the project and was able to guide and work with the young people to help them explore issues of national identity by way of collage and installation. The workshop was a great success and Samora’s input was invaluable. Samora is now due to support the workshop artist at a series of youth clubs run at the Wisbech venue.

As a result of attending the Warm Up Samora has also taken up a part-time role at the Babylon Gallery in Ely. He described this as a great opportunity to network and find out more about community arts. Working at a gallery such as Babylon has served to put Samora in the heart of the arts and, he is hoping, will lead to more exciting opportunities in his chosen field.

Finally, Samora said he was pleased he had attended the Team East Warm Up which has led on to numerous opportunities and given him a chance to develop his art practise as a real and viable career option.

Samora now has a job with a local voluntary sector organisation working with young people.