My time as a Cultural Leadership Trainee at Gloucestershire Libraries
Aimee is currently on a creative leadership programme with Gloucester Culture Trust, working for Gloucestershire Libraries and for two days a week at Strike A Light. She helps engage with people through creative projects based in libraries across Gloucester.
We caught up with her 3 months into her traineeship…
“My mum actually tagged me in the job post”
(Go mum!).
Aimee, tell us about your creative journey from starting out?
After completing my BSC in Film Production at Gloucestershire College, I hoped to source work close to home within the South West. I was searching for a creative role and heard about this opportunity on Facebook through the Engage in Gloucester page, where my mum actually tagged me in the job post (go mum). At the time I was fresh out of University for nearly 6 months and I wasn’t working in a creative job, so I couldn’t believe a job involving creative thinking came up in Gloucester! I jumped at the opportunity.
What have you been working on in Gloucestershire?
I have been working within my role for three months now, having supported a few Art of Libraries projects through Create Gloucestershire and learned a lot about marketing for theatre shows and events with Strike a Light. I’ve also been helping out at a new Innovation Lab in Coleford Library where I manage all social media accounts, plan for future events and attend schools workshops which indulge digital technology learning. I’ve also been working front of house on a couple of Strike a Light projects and I’m also currently assisting on producing new Art of Libraries workshops and a show by Jonny Fluffypunk.
Wow sounds busy - what have you learned so far?
The traineeship role was new to me and also to the organisations i’ve been working with so we have been working it out together. When I started, I expected to be helping produce high scale shows to bring into Libraries. However, I discovered that actually Libraries have a niche for supporting shows in development stages. This is because it’s a safe place to practise and to get feedback from a real audience. I’ve also learned that a project doesn’t have to be large to create an impact on people. I feel like this will reflect in future plans during my remaining time with Libraries.
How would you like to grow your relationship with the Create Gloucestershire network?
I’d like to gain more experience within marketing for a business and producing shows and projects for local communities in Gloucestershire. I definitely want to be based in the county and explore the world of producing whilst building on relationships and experience. I’m certain that Gloucestershire Libraries, Strike A Light and Create Glos can help support me and give advice within this creative network.