2023
ARTS EMERGENCY
I produced and delivered a Youth Collective workshop on financial wellbeing whilst building a career in the arts.
InPublishing
I was quoted by Jem Collins from JournoResources on how to improve recruitment and retention in journalism. You can find the article here.
2022
COVENTRY CITY OF CULTURE // Equal Exchange Guest Speaker
In May 2022, I was invited to speak at the Equal Exchange panel with speakers representing Coventry City of Culture and Positive Youth Foundation. The event aimed to platform the creatives of today with the arts producers of tomorrow.
UAL: DECOLONISING ARTS INSTITUTE X CONTEMPORARY ARTS SOCIETY // Commissioned Writer
I contributed to the Contemporary Art Society’ paper on Doing the Work, Embedding anti-racism and decolonisation into museum practice. For this, CAS ran a series of seven, closed online workshops in 2021. This programme was co-produced by Anjalie Dalal-Clayton and Ilaria Puri Purini. I was commissioned to write an account of and critically reflect on what happened at the final workshop. It’s titled “Collective Care is Different from Self Care: Rethinking Engagement in Art Museums and Galleries in 2021.”
ARTS EMERGENCY
I wrote a wellbeing informed worksheet which focused on Should I do a Master’s? This was a reflection of feedback we’d received from Young Community members who were unsure about pursuing further education in an unsettled post-COVID arts job market.
2021
BRITISH COUNCIL // Masterclass Facilitator “Career Planning for folks who are more than their job titles”
I was part of the Benaki Museum, the U.S. Embassy in Greece, and the British Council 11th International CoMuseum Conference programme. The theme was “(Re)Positioning the Museum of Tomorrow.” I led a masterclass on creating a plan for one’s professional development.
GEM HERITAGE // Co-Presenter & Facilitator “Online and Offline Safeguarding in the Age of the ‘Culture Wars’”
I coordinated a presentation with Zakira Begum and Cherelle Cunningham on how to protect staff members and volunteers engaging in decolonial work. This presentation factored in how to embed a holistic approach which included both programmes, curatorial, front of house and marketing team. It included how to brief, how to factor in HR, how to ensure safeguarding compliance for under and over 18s, and crisis comms management. I facilitated a Q&A afterwards.
MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION // Workshop Facilitator for “Surviving Freelance”
I led a break out session on zoom on Surviving Freelance and was part of the panel for the final Q&A. (I promise you I was not bored, that’s my listening face). Screenshot Credit: Louise Marlborough BRITISH COUNCIL // Guest Panelist on the Cultural Leadership Programme
I was invited to join Transforming Narratives, Cultural Leadership Programme programme, as part on the virtual “Long Table” panel with James Tyson (British Council) and Zoya Ahmed (Civic Square).
VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM // Guest Panelist for “Live Conversations: Transferable Career Skills”
Joined with Sarah Gregory, Head of Creative Careers at the Creative Industries Federation, to explore the changes in the creative industries and how young people can adapt, promote, and upskill themselves during these times. It was devised with V&A Youth Collective, they asked us qs on what was important to them. It wasn’t live recorded, but here is the live illustration of what we said. Image Credit: @KatieDraws BRITISH MUSEUM // Guest Panelist at “Museum careers unlocked: getting your foot in the door“
This was co-ordinated by the really lovely Youth Collective. They put me and Michelle McGrath, founder of Museum as Muck, on the hot seat. The event focused on museum careers, and the process of ‘breaking into’ the sector as a young person. ARTS EMERGENCY
In recognition of the impact of COVID-19 on young people, I produced resources that centred wellbeing for over 18s. I wrote Intro to Freelancing and Money and Wellbeing in recognition of the nature of zero hours and growth in insecure contracts in the creative industries. I also – out of frustration at gatekeepers – wrote a how to on how to Write better job ads.
I also supported the Community team with any administration as well as events planning, production, and facilitation support for their workshop programme:
1) “Dyslexia and Creativity”
2) “How to pitch an article with Dazed Magazine”
3) “How to write: Sci Fi and Fantasy for Film and TV”
4) “Joy and Zine Making”I was a key part of the delivery of their Online Residential programme where we had these workshops:
a) Practical tips for becoming a freelancer
b) How to stand up for yourself at work – a talk with Equity
c) Panel Insights into different arts careers (TV, Heritage, Games, and Music)
d) Writing for wellbeing (limited spaces)
Aksana Khan 