A BA (Hons) Costume student at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has been invited to join four artists involved in the In and Out of Bounds project, presented at the Venice Biennale.
Melissa Gale, who's about to start her second year on the Costume course, having previously completed AUB's Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, was invited to join the artists in Venice as a project intern, gaining first-hand experience of working on an international exhibition.
In and Out of Bounds is an Arts Council England-funded, cross-cultural and cross-generational arts project connecting the New Forest and Venice.
Through the work of Vanessa Collingridge (Course Leader of the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design), James Elliott (Programme Leader of MA Photography (Online) at AUB), Tom Hall and Stephanie James, and their collaborations with communities, the project explores place, identity, belonging and boundaries.
A key ambition of the project was to create opportunities for young people beyond community workshops, and through Arts Council England funding, Melissa was able to join Venice Bound, the second phase of the project.
Venice Bound brought the research, conversations and artworks generated through the New Forest into dialogue with another bounded landscape, a historic island city with its own communities, identities and environmental challenges.
"I am so grateful to have been involved in Venice Bound, a project which allowed me to experience new culture and working environments outside of university first hand," says Melissa.
"Vanessa, James, Tom and Steph guided me throughout the experience, providing me with tasks inside and outside of the gallery. An example of this was invigilating the gallery on my own. These experiences massively increased my confidence.
"I was able to have valuable conversations with the artists, who always provided me with advice, reassurance, and knowledge about working within the art industry. Wonderfully, I was able to explore the local art of Venice on my own throughout the trip, providing me with endless inspiration for projects of my own.’
During her time in Venice, Melissa experienced the realities of exhibiting internationally supporting the exhibition, working within a gallery, welcoming visitors and discussing the project and artworks with an international audience. She also gained insight into the preparation, collaboration, adaptability and practical problem-solving that takes place behind the scenes.
As someone who lives in the New Forest and has progressed from Foundation to undergraduate study at AUB, Melissa's involvement created a meaningful connection between the different strands of the project. Her internship reflects an important ambition of In and Out of Bounds: to give young people opportunities to participate in professional creative practice and experience where a creative education can lead.
