Sag Aloo ghobi veg dansak Dahl who’s excited that I’m coming home ? @thrutheblue @fabulosity1 @chakabars (Taken with instagram)
homecoming…..
As you know if you’ve read my blog, I left the UK in the Autumn of 2010 and apart from two brief visits, haven’t yet returned. From the beginning of June I will be once again based in the UK and unless I get a job offer in New York, will continue to be so for a considerable time. Yes, the weather depresses me! So does the current government, but there are few places in the world with as many opportunities for education and arts in the world.
When I left, I was really burnt out. I had spent many years advising, supporting, teaching, developing and generally improving the lot of others in the arts, and I had nothing left to give. Throughout those years I struggled with a largely hidden illness and the pressures of being a single mum, and to be honest, I really wasn’t feeling the love from my wider arts community. People were always being sent to me for funding advice, or marketing tips, networking information, but as I’m not an asker, the favours were rarely returned. To make matters worse, after I would help others (99% of the time for free), I’d then be asked “but what about your work, Alicia? You really need to spend more time on your own practice!” Hmmmmmmm….. that would have required me to say NO, I can’t help you, can I have some of your time for free now? I wasn’t raised that way…….
But it wasn’t just individuals that burnt me out - it was the systems I worked within as well. Change management within environments that were already undergoing change management has to be an almost impossible task, and I was never known for asking the easy questions, or settling for the status quo for a quiet life. I have challenged and fought for what I believe in my whole life, cos I WAS raised that way. But you often find that what people will moan about around a coffee table is not what they will stand up for around a board table.
This time away, however has allowed me to achieve some very important things - renew my health, refocus on my artistic practice, and understand once again that despite the atrocious cuts, the UK still has the best Arts & Education system in the world. People need to stop complaining so much about what it doesn’t do and start appreciating and defending what it does. Trust me, you won’t find a system as prolific, well funded or well developed anywhere else.
Working with young people has always been an important part of my life - whether that’s through filming, teaching, producing, mentoring or marketing- it has and will continue to be a crucial part of who I am. One of the key factors in my return it is to renew and increase that work and I’m immensely proud of the world class standards we have in the UK for working with young people. Don’t take them for granted.
As an example check out and support this incredible youth festival - I worked on it with Iain Bloomfield (Theatre in the Mill) way back in 2002 at the inaugural festival. It’s everything that’s wonderful about the arts and youth arts in the UK.
http://www.indiegogo.com/ctw2012
I just wish I could bring some sun back with me……. see you soon …….
