My journey with Arts Emergency started in 2020 when I applied for a mentor and was paired with Manchester-based architect Lorenza, who was wonderful!
At the time, I was at college and knew that I liked art and design. I’d thought about studying architecture at university but I had no idea about the route to get there. Although my teachers and family were supportive, they didn’t have any knowledge of the best pathways either. Lorenza gave me so much clarity and direction, it really was a blessing having a mentor like her.
Lorenza gave me so much clarity and direction, it really was a blessing having a mentor like her
We met in-person a couple of times but then Covid lockdowns hit so we met online. Even after our mentoring year had finished Lorenza gave me the opportunity to do a week’s work experience at her architecture firm post-lockdown. This was invaluable and gave me the chance to feel the energy of the workplace and connect with industry professionals who shared advice I still carry with me.
I struggled to think about the future during the Covid lockdowns because it felt like everything was on pause, but my mentoring partnership gave me the push I needed to get motivated and ambitious about my future. I'm now in the final year of Part 1 of my Architecture degree at the University of Liverpool and plan to continue with Part 2. Lorenza has been an integral part of my journey, she even advised me on the best university to go for facilities and opportunities.
Being part of Arts Emergency has given me a network, confidence and the ability to communicate with industry professionals
After completing my year of mentoring, I stayed connected through the Arts Emergency Young Community. In 2024, I joined the Youth Collective to play a more active role in decision-making and to support others like me - those with potential but without connections. Being part of Arts Emergency has given me a network, confidence and the ability to communicate with industry professionals.