"It is hard work to get into the mainstream of the arts, and especially for a BME person"

Hometown
New Delhi, India, but I now live in London

What do you do?
Projects coordinator, London Bubble Theatre Company

How long have you been in this role?
One month

What was your very first role in theatre?
Administrator, London Bubble Theatre Company

What have you done in theatre?
* Community media arts officer, Queen Elizabeth Girls School
* Projects manager (North India), British Council

Have you got qualifications?
A degree in architecture and an MA (a second, higher-level degree) in arts management

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I worked as an architect before, then moved to a multi-art form organisation. I also trained as a ceramicist for a year in between.

How did you make the move to theatre?
I got to know about ITC and its Fast Track programme, applied for it and got selected! (Fast Track is a positive action programme in British theatre and arts management to address the under-representation of black, Asian and other minority ethnic people working at middle and senior management levels in UK theatre)

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Lots of things,as with most children! But until not that long ago I wanted to be a potter.

What do you do all day?
I am responsible for project management and coordination, fundraising for projects and their administration. I work closely with the education department and the marketing department.

What’s the best thing about your job?
* Meeting new people who bring their own energies
* Being part of a creative process and designing and implementing projects that use the arts to make a difference
* The dynamic nature of working with a theatre company – no two days are the same
* Working in a small company allows me to extend my learning to areas beyond what is stated in a job description

And the worst?
None so far. I am enjoying being on a learning curve.

What’s your dream job in theatre?
I would love to work as a general manager of a small company or even at a multi-art form cultural centre. I am very intrigued by the way different art forms come together to create new and exciting genres of work.

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
It is hard work to get into the mainstream of the arts, and especially for a BME person. I know people from BME groups who either remain within the BME arts scene or only engage with fringe activities. Programmes such as ITC Fast Track are a wonderful opportunity to extend the canvas, network effectively and learn more. It is important not to give up trying and gain as much experience as possible from a variety of avenues that are available in the arts.