BA (Hons) Art History and Visual Culture student Lei Appleyard reflects on working at Liberation Art Gallery
For my placement module, I had the amazing experience of working at Liberation Art Gallery, a gallery carefully and thoughtfully run by Caroline Pendray, a licensed art therapist with a passion for making art accessible to all. I collaborated closely with a dedicated team comprised of skilled art therapists, attentive stewards, and talented resident artists, all of whom created a supportive and creative atmosphere for me to work in. The gallery itself consists of three main spaces, a main floor gallery, a workshop/gallery space, and a therapy room situated in the attic.
During my time at the gallery, I undertook a variety of administrative tasks including answering emails, taking phone calls, dealing with enquiries about sales, and chasing up buyer details. I also had the exciting opportunity to engage directly with patrons by selling artworks, which not only honed my sales skills but also deepened my appreciation for the artists’ work. I played a role in ensuring the smooth operation of the gallery, contributing to the overall visitor experience by maintaining a welcoming and informative environment.
After completing my required hours, I made the decision to continue my involvement at the gallery, drawn in by its inclusive and nurturing community. I felt truly valued by my colleagues, which motivated me to take on more responsibilities, including volunteering myself for extra days and taking over last minute workshops when it was needed of me. I also learned about the intricate process of curating shows, managing a submissions board, and creating a shortlist of artist proposals and works that resonated with the vision of each exhibition.
In addition, I became a part of the passionate team of workshop leaders, meaning I was able to experience some of the many workshops available at the gallery, most notably running the “Paint and Sip” workshops, during which people can come along to our lovely space, and have a few hours to relax with a glass of prosecco, a paintbrush, and their friends! I stepped into the role of leading painting workshops offered at Liberation, which not only allowed me to share my creativity with others but also let me explore my aspiration of becoming an art teacher. Running and leading these workshops was incredibly fulfilling for me, and it encouraged me to consider further opportunities for leading art education initiatives in the future.
Overall, my time at Liberation Art Gallery has been extremely rewarding, and I am eager to continue my journey there for as long as possible, nurturing my passion for art and teaching within such a vibrant community. The experience was a smooth one, with only a few bumps along the way, all ones that got quickly ironed out, and any questions I had being answered as soon as I would ask them. I have enjoyed this experience more than I can put into words, I am hopeful for what this gallery continues to bring me, as well as feeling extremely thankful for the opportunities given to me by both my course leader, Harriet, who set up the placement, and also to the wonderful Caroline, who ensured I never felt lost while learning my place at this amazing gallery.