a hidden gem
Recently, a woman in an art workshop said that Ort Gallery was a ‘hidden gem’, and I completely agree. Rather, I would say that it is Balsall Heath in general that should be considered a hidden gem.
During my time in the gallery, I have been welcomed by a community with so much warmth and friendship to give - I have met the most crazy and creative kids along with warm-hearted women in art workshops. I feel so attached to all the friends I have made and brilliant creatives I have had the pleasure of meeting (they will have a hard time getting rid of me now!). When Aaisha took me on a tour around Balsall Heath and told me about all the local shopkeepers and café owners, I knew this was an organisation which wholeheartedly cares for the people they work with and around.
A highlight of my experience at Ort Gallery was the Hayati Open Mic night - an event for poetry, connection, and creativity. The whole evening felt inclusive, genuine, and without any sense of hierarchy. Watching the brave people who stood on stage perform their poetry inspired something within me to also want to write, create and express myself through my love of literature and art. The best part of the evening was when a man had strolled into the Open Mic night, not knowing there was an event on, and proceeded to go on stage and perform an amazing improv despite having never done anything like this in public before. I think that moment of not quite knowing what you’re doing but feeling comfortable enough with the people around you to do it anyway embodies exactly what Ort Gallery supports. There is no room for notions of hierarchy or inaccessibility at Ort, which I believe completely sets it apart from other galleries. After the event, Aaisha, Josie, and I served everyone a freshly made (amazing) curry, in what felt like an intimate and meaningful act of giving back to the community.
There are days where I leave work knowing that I made someone’s day better, which is such an incredibly warm feeling. Without fail, I leave the gallery emotionally satisfied in the work that I have done, and that is more than enough for me. Ort has made me rethink what it means to be ‘productive’, especially outside of the university bubble I found myself in. There has been a strong emphasis on personal, as well as professional, development which has given me so much confidence in myself and my capabilities. Learning and unlearning has been an incredibly important topic of discussion between Aaisha, Josie, and I - and it is a discussion that definitely feels in no way finished. Through working in the Arts sector, I have realised that everyone can be creative, no matter what form that takes, as long as there are accessible opportunities!
As someone that wants to pursue a career in the Arts, being able to observe the inner workings of an independent gallery and to have access to information about fundraising has been invaluable in shaping my curatorial knowledge. It may sound cliché, but no day of my internship has looked the same. I feel like I have had the chance to do a bit of everything - curating, installing, social media management, budget planning, and communicating with warmth have been just a few things that I have learnt at Ort Gallery. I have also learnt how to build IKEA furniture.
There were times where I was challenged by having to make creative decisions on the spot, which I feel only helped me with boosting my confidence. I have picked up so many curatorial skills that will help me in my future career, as well as adopting the Warmth ethos into my personal life. It no longer feels like the bare minimum to ask for compassion in the workplace, I now consider it to be the norm and will insist on this wherever I go.
Overall, friendship, laughter, and a lot of food from Lidl bakery defines my experience at Ort, and I am so grateful for the experience I have had here. Thank you, Aaisha and Josie!
by Jasmine Khodadeen, University of the Arts Internship