Where are you from?

I was born and raised in South London, but I am three quarters Jamaican and one quarter Irish.

What are your interests and passions? /​What did you study?

I studied drama and theatre studies at university. When it comes to my interests and passions, I would say definitely music and film, I absolutely love film. One of the other things I am particularly interested in is the art of children’s theatre and TV.

How did you come across the HarrisonParrott Internship on Creative Access?

I was looking on the Creative Access website and I applied to a few things, but I didn’t think I would be successful in my application for HarrisonParrott. I went for a trial interview through Creative Access and there was a bunch of people that had applied. After a waiting period, I got invited into the office for a meeting and I spoke to the previous intern and learnt a bit more about the company. I decided it seemed like a great place to work, especially as a first job, so I accepted. 

Fun fact about you?

During my year abroad I got stuck in Mexico for 2 days because my friend had left her passport somewhere. I had to email my professors back in the US (where I was doing my study abroad) to explain to them that I was stuck in Mexico and wouldn’t be able to come to lectures. However, it did give me the opportunity to practice and improve my Spanish!

Your future aspirations?

I definitely want to travel, as much as possible. I’ve done a bit of travelling already, but I’d like to do some more. I’d love to meet new people and get involved in the arts industry as much as possible. It’s difficult to get involved, especially for graduates, so I’m really grateful for this opportunity with HarrisonParrott as it has helped me to break through the barrier.

Why do you think inclusivity in the arts is important?

Right now, the arts industry is struggling a lot, especially in the education sector. My secondary school in Lambeth was subject to many funding cuts. There was more of a focus on science and maths, and I did not feel as though the arts were valued as much. The school cut music out of the curriculum, so I wasn’t able to study GCSE music. Luckily, they continued with drama, but it’s cuts such as these that are robbing us of our opportunities and creativity. This is damaging as I believe that children and young people are taught through creativity. This is why Creative Access is so important as it gives these opportunities back to young people from minority backgrounds and encourages them to work in the arts industry.

Being a young black woman trying to get involved in the arts can be difficult as there is extreme systemic racism and sexism in the industry. I don’t believe that there are many opportunities for our voices to be heard, let alone considered. Creative Access works on breaking down these barriers, providing a platform for minorities to get a chance to express themselves and their often-overlooked talents. I believe that many creative businesses need to face issues such as racism and exclusivity in order to help the world to move forward. We can only move forward if it is discussed, acknowledged and questioned. By collaborating with amazing companies such as HarrisonParrott, Creative Access makes room for these discussions to take place which will hopefully result in an artistic melting pot of an industry!

HarrisonParrott Ltd has partnered with Creative Access to recruit candidates for its 6 month paid internship programme.