About Me 

My name is Tilly Hollyhead! I’m a postgraduate student at the University of Birmingham, studying my MA in Creative Writing. Usually, I spend my days typing away, trying to develop new ideas into something deeper that I can explore in my work. However, in the future, I would love to help others explore their creativity by delivering workshops. This is why Severn Arts was such a good fit, and why I looked forward to my role as an Arts Assistant so much!

Week One

The first week of Pitch Up was all about learning the ropes. I got my first look at the Severn Arts office, then got to sit in on a meeting between Jen (Pitch Up’s project lead and Community Producer) and Gaby Songui (The program’s Creative Mentor). We brainstormed ideas on how to best deliver the project, and I got to know my responsibilities better!

The rest of the week involved working with the students of the Heart of Worcestershire College. Things were difficult to begin with. Some students were hesitant to engage, and groups had to be shifted so nobody would be working alone. However, Gaby did an excellent job of bringing them out of their shells. I supported them by helping them speak through their ideas and get them down onto paper. It was a great chance to get to know everyone better! I got to grips with their specialisms and what they wanted their future in the arts industry to look like.

Week Two

Students spent two days preparing to deliver pitches to a panel of judges, something that many of them were nervous about. We jumped straight into a day of workshops meant to help boost their confidence. An actor who specialised in comedy and improvisation came in on Monday morning, leading them through a series of silly but beneficial activities. Who would have thought that wandering around a room, holding conversations through body language exclusively, would have been as helpful as it was hilarious?

In the afternoon, they put these skills into use by rehearsing their pitches and doing a mock presentation. This meant that they only had an afternoon to perfect their plans before the real thing the next morning!

It was truly impressive to see students go in jittery with nerves, and then to see them come back out pleased with themselves. It really showed me the skills that Pitch Up aims to develop. Jen and I also took the chance to speak about the allocation of prizes and the writing of an evaluation report. It was a chance to plan out the logistics after the more hands-on sessions that we delivered the week before.

Week Three

The final week of this project meant that I had the chance to focus on my evaluation report! Students were focused on creating their artworks, which meant that they were content to work independently with only a few check-ins from us. Whilst there were some moments where students wanted feedback on their work, most of my time was spent trying to put the changing attitudes of participants into writing. It was more challenging than I expected it to be, but it was one that I was certainly ready to rise to!

The final day of the project was much more of a whirlwind. With multiple groups of students creating larger pieces, it meant that transporting them to the exhibition space took a lot of teamwork. After that, it was up to them to figure out how they wanted to display their work. Well, with us supplying them with advice on what was allowed within the space, of course.

During the exhibition, I got another chance to speak with students and gather more information for my evaluation report. It was wonderful to see everyone relaxing and enjoying their time together, especially since this was the last day of the term. It was also encouraging to hear the positive feedback that many of them gave!

Unexpected Lessons

· Students will be more hesitant to engage at first. It was up to me to be a part of the enthusiasm and ask questions to help encourage them.

· The amount of experience I had with physical artwork did not matter. It was my attitude and the way I spoke to people that had the most impact!

· Learning on the go is the most important thing. Diving in head-first and learning from those around me was the biggest help.

Favourite Moments

· One group of students had a very promising set of ideas but could not decide on a precise message. They spent two sessions trying to settle on something and, when they finally did? I couldn’t help but join in on their celebration.

· Speaking with different industry professionals and guest speakers was a great chance to learn from their experiences. As someone who has been mostly involved with the literary projects of Birmingham, I was excited to learn about different areas of the arts scene.

Tips for the next Pitch Up Project Assistant

· Keep a notebook with you at all times. Sometimes, you’ll want to take notes on the fly and laptop may not be the most portable.

· Speak to everyone! You’ll never know what you might learn.

· Do not be afraid to push yourself. You may not have the most experience in an area, but that should not stop you from trying.

· Get involved with every activity that you can. It helps engage the students and gives you the chance to learn.