TRACE Mentorship Programme

The inaugural TRACE Mentorship Programme, with generous support from the Genesis Kickstart Fund, is launching a year-long no-cost mentorship programme for 24 female-identifying photographers over the age of 35. And I’m one of the 24.

Last weekend, we had our first face to face meet up in Manchester. It was while Haley Morris -Cafiero was describing the programme and what it entailed that I realised what a tremendous opportunity this is for me practice. I got goosebumps and came right smack into the present moment with the realisation and what I could do within this programme. How I could fly.

Working with the team of Haley Morris-Cafiero, Sian Bonnell, the director, Sebah Chaudhry and Polly Palmerini, the TRACE mentorship programme will provide workshops, one-to-one mentorships, peer networking, portfolio reviews and an exhibition opportunity for photographers who are selected for the programme. All delivered on line.

To be chosen as the final 24 from over 150 submissions is an honour as well as a recognition of my worth as a photographer, Creatrix. I look forward to sharing the developments of the programme as things go on.

Trace Mentorship Update – 3rd November 2022

A recent addition to my portfolio has been details about my Trace Mentorship opportunity. This was an applied for opportunity to experience the time and space to focus on my photography through a structured programme with other women over 35 years old.

Through a series of talks, presentations, peer and professional reviews, the aim is to gain confidence, knowledge, exposure and further opportunities to develop our skills and establish our practice.

I haven’t really been able to devote the required time and attention to this programme due to immersing myself within the BALTIC commission, it feels like for most of 2022. With this being complete and installed, back from Washington State, now I have the time to really get to grips with this opportunity.

It started with a portfolio review with three experts. I had the great pleasure and honour of talking one on one with Hettie Judah, Cindy Sissokho and Bindi Vora. And what a tremendous opportunity this was to sit down with them (virtually) and talk about my work, my vision, my mission etc.

Not only were they very positive and supportive about my work, but they also offered inspiration, encouragement, reassurance and permission. Yes from talking to these people within the know, my practice, what I’m doing, or trying to do was recognised and appreciated.

I was given back permission and the confidence to keep doing me. To keep pushing the boundaries, to not place limitations on myself, my practice, or what a photograph can be/ can do.

I’m in a much better place now to expand my way of being, seeing and doing, and continue to bring my mixness, hybridity to what I do. I’m excited to see where this takes me.

I’m enjoying the process as usual and not worrying about the end product. And I’m taking my time, embracing the slow. This feels nourishing and good for my soul.

Defining my focus – 3rd November 2022

I’m merging myself, self-portraiture, with nature. Self assimilated with nature. I’m exploring my connection with nature through photography( for now!).

I’m exploring the environment and the visibility of Blackwomen within the landscape. Using the photographic image to tell a story. In the process reclaiming the narrative of Blackwomen and nature and photography.

I’m exploring the Blackwoman’s space and visibility in love and in relationship with nature. My audience is the Blackwoman. I want her to enter the space I create through my practice and recognise herself there. I want her feel that she belongs, feel the joy and all the lushness created in that space.

This will be a multidisciplinary experience. This will be a celebration of mixness, hybridity and our bodies in love with nature.

Losing my way – 24 March 2023

It’s been awhile since I’ve been here. I could lay out a series of excuses. Lack of energy and time. Empty promises. Humiliation and shoddy treatments.
But let’s focus on what I can control. What I process and produce. And let’s just say, not a lot.

To be honest, I’ve lost my way as I question what attracted me to this opportunity in the first place? As that was it! It was an opportunity geared towards recognising the barriers and difficulties within the photography sector for women over a certain age, Black women more so. And working to minimise them.

I wasn’t expecting someone else to do the work for me, but I was expecting that those barriers would be eliminated / minimised/ for the duration of this mentorship. Not increased or reinforced. That I didn’t have to sweat the outcomes, I just had to grow and develop my practice, I assumed. I assumed wrong.

I envisioned learning new things about the industry, community, techniques and practices and really this hasn’t materialised. I can take responsibility for not engaging as much as I ‘should’ and maybe distancing myself from the crowd. As I don’t feel myself reflected in this crowd. We want different things.

So as we enter the last quarter of this mentorship, my enthusiasm is at an all time low in terms of engaging, producing, basically showing up. Anyone reading this would think I’m being ungrateful and tis is a missed/ wasted opportunity that someone else could have utilised. Maybe you’d be right.

Or maybe, I’m grateful for this experience as it has been a learning experience in a different way than I expected or how it was billed. Maybe things will become clearer if I just sit with my practice and channel all these frustrations and disappointments into constructive. Into something wholesome and good of my own making.

We shall see.

What can I say? Where are we at? – 13 May 2023

To say I’ve become all disillusioned with the whole project is an understatement. To say I have disengaged with the whole project would be honest.

I missed my last mentoring session. I mean it was the bank holiday but if I’m being honest which I tend to be, I had never any intention of turning up to it. Once you’ve lost my respect, you don’t get it back. Especially when I offer the opportunity or opening of entering into conversation about it/ around it and it is met with silence.

Anyway, I’m not bitter. I wish I could say the I’ve learnt some new skills, made some lasting contacts and networks. But again in all honesty, what has been revealed is how everyone is out for themselves. It’s a shame but it really is how the world turns.

You live and learn. I’m grateful for the opportunity. But from here on out, what gets my attention and energy will be the things/ projects which I believe are good for me; will stretch me, make me curious and eager and is not a ticking box kind of experience/ charade.

As an end of project exhibition, my images will feature here in my own space on my own terms.
Look out for it.