Here Comes The Sun...

So I haven't had time to blog as I worked almost 50 hours last week! As many of you know, as part of my internship, I was helping to organise an arts centre's annual festival. This involved heping with making decor, setting up logistics, programming, marketing among other things. It finally happened on Saturday and was a huge success! The week was stressful but I had lots of fun. It's fair to say that this internship has been amazing, I've really enjoyed it and met some brilliant people. I never want it to end.

Lots of people enjoyed the festival and I've had some great feedback from acts. Of course, there were a few small hiccups but it all got resolved. I've learnt how much I love working with volunteers. They're especially enthusiastic and passionate about what they do and work so hard. We had over 25 acts across 3 stages with incredible decor, much of which was made with a group of adults with learning disabilities.

As far as figures go, we're looking to have raised around £2500 for the arts centre which is incredible and I'm so proud to have been part of such a brilliant day.

If you're looking to check out some new music then I'd definitely recommend some of the artists we had playing: 

Bentcousin

A band from Brighton, this band are really fun. Lyrics which remind me a little of Kate Nash's old stuff. Their energy is contagious and they are just the perfect pop style band to put you in a good mood.

Co-Pilgrim

A band from Oxford who are lovely guys and great musicians. They play lovely pop melodies and have great harmonies. Definitely something to check out if you like bands such as Stornoway or Villagers.

Vienna Ditto

Something really different but really fantastic! Electronica and bluesy. It's quite difficult to describe them but they are definitely worth a listen.

Khamsina

Beautiful lady with a beautiful voice. I could listen to her sing all day. Her music is just lovely and she has incredible stage presence.

So there we have it, the big event of my internship is over and it will all be over in a few weeks. I'm hoping to continue volunteering at the centre when it's done though. Now I have to find a real job. Also got Saturday at Reading festival coming up and The Libertines at Ally Pally. Lots of exciting/scary things to look forward to!

Here Comes The Sun

So my first interview since finishing university was this week and I got the internship! I thought I'd post a bit about the awesome place where I'm going to be working for the next 3 months.

The Rising Sun Arts Centre in Reading is a small, independent centre based in a beautiful building in the town centre which was built in 1877. Over 20 years ago, a group of artists squatted in the building. They wanted it to be a place to be creative and express themselves. At the time, they had little restrictions on what they could do.

Now, the centre is a registered charity. Day to day, a bunch of volunteers give up their time to help run the centre and its activities. These range from music performances and dance classes to life drawing and burlesque performances. The centre focuses on its ideals of getting as many people as possible involved in creativity. The centre has changed a lot since its beginning but it still holds a similar goal of getting the community to engage in creative activities.

The people there really do love what they do, they are passionate about the centre's ideas. I love that there are people willing to give up their time for free in order to help any charity. I'm excited to get the chance to work with volunteers who really enjoy what they do and want to help the centre in any way that they can. The volunteers are from all walks of life, different ages and abilities which allows various viewpoints in helping the arts.

My role as intern will involve me helping the volunteers prepare for the centre's yearly festival. I am really excited to be getting involved with this and I'm sure the experience will be invaluable. On leaving university, I had no idea what I wanted to do so applied to various internships and luckily got one very quickly. This opportunity will let me know if this is the sort of thing I want to do and will hopefully teach me a lot.

Leaving university was terrifying. The first week was filled with worry, I had no idea of what was going to happen. The future was so uncertain. Getting this internship was a huge relief. I now know what the next 3 months will hold. After that, I have no clue but this is a start. There are so many opportunities once you come out of university and my advice is just to embrace them and do whatever you can when you have the option!