CATCHING UP W/ THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Last year we announced our first ever Artist In Residence, Melissa Dean. Helping others get into creative spaces has always been at the core of what Reform is all about. Through this programme, the artist received a small bursary and free space, as well as support into paid work, both within and outside our organisation. 

We caught up with Melissa to see how her time being the Artist In Residence at Reform has been and what highlights or challenges she has faced.

To find out more, keep reading… 

Please introduce yourself and briefly describe what the Artist In Residence is and what it means to you.

Hey! My name is Melissa Dean and I am a multi-disciplined artist; actress, voice-over, producer, writer and radio show host. The Artist In Residence was an opportunity I was given by Reform to offer me various types of support, granting me full access to Reform’s space. I have also been offered three paid opportunities throughout my year here and a bursary of £300. I get to work alongside the most beautiful team and have access to a mental health advisor. 

I was producing a film at the time that I wrote to Reform to ask if they would have any desk space I could use. I was finding working from home difficult and it was expensive going into cafes to work each day. Within 6 weeks, Jemma called me to discuss the Artist In Residence role. 

It goes to show that if you don’t ask for support, you won’t get it. What is there to lose other than a bit of pride? We need to get better at asking and feel more encouraged asking for things from organisations within our communities. I’ve spent years sending my acting work to casting directors and never hear a response. Had I let those rejections crush me, I never would have written to Reform and I wouldn’t have had this life-changing opportunity. 

That is really what it has been for me. I am 34 now and have been working in the arts since I was 21. Reform is the first organisation to offer me support. To believe in me. To say yes. To give me the artistic space I needed. I’ve been able to record my voice-overs in a professional setting. I’ve had space 24 hours a day to do audition tapes. I’ve had the space to work late when people have left to lay out my manuscript on the entirety of the floor and cut and edit it. I’ve been so welcomed into an artistic team which I’ve never had before.

What have the last 6 months brought you personally and/or professionally?

Personally, my confidence has grown wonders. People think that because I’m an actress and I can be extroverted that I must be the most confident person in the world, which is not the case. I have my own fears and anxieties and I’ve often struggled within workplaces to fit in with rules and regulations. 

I’ve been able to take part in the various free courses Reform runs. The facilitation course, DJing, Soundcamp; all of which taught me brand new skills. I’ve always wanted to try DJ’ing and I finally got to learn that skill for free with some aftercare too. I just got offered my first DJ gig, led by my facilitator at Reform. Soundcamp came for me at a time when I was having a tremendously hard time in my personal life. The course offered the space I needed to not feel trapped in the room, to be able to leave the room when I needed to but to also be as present as I could. It was exactly what I needed at that time and I really wanted to face my fear of singing; a goal and fear I’d had since I was a child. I sang for the first time in public at Drop The Mic after doing Soundcamp and I’ve gone on to write music with a producer and a musician. 

What have been your highlights?

Honestly, number 1 is the amazing team at Reform. It wouldn’t be Reform without them all. The DJ course, Soundcamp (25 artists shoved into a room for 2 weeks to jam together). Having the space early morning and at night time for auditions tapes and a writing space has been so useful.

What have you learnt during this process? Were there any challenges?

I think the biggest challenge for me has been learning how to use my time daily and keep to a schedule. When you are a full-time artist and work across different projects and are your own boss, for me the hardest thing is having a daily routine to stick to. 

How does it feel to be a part of Reform?

It feels so exciting. There’s so much scope for possibility. If you were to look at the space, the courses and the paid opportunities and put them all in front of you at the start of one’s time there, it’s just a gigantic pool of hope and excitement. It really is an exciting opportunity that can be taken anywhere!

Is there anything that has happened as a direct result of being the Artist In Residence?

I’ve been doing voice-overs for 8 years now. When I was offered the opportunity to do VO’s for The Guardian Newspapers Podcasts, I didn’t have the soundproof space at home. Having that space at Reform let me take that work on and offer professional recordings. 

Would you recommend it? Who do you think this kind of residency will be most beneficial for? 

Of course, I would recommend it! I think the residency would best suit someone that may need various types of space such as studio, DJ facilities, room or desk space. Someone who needs an artistic team around them, who would like to delve into the opportunities of the free courses. 

This is a difficult one to answer – I just wanted desk space when I wrote to Reform, they were the ones that offered so much more. I wouldn’t want anyone to read the above and think that’s not me. I think a person coming into the space and hearing one of the directors, Jemma, talk about the possibilities was what woke up my creative mind.

What advice would you give anyone who was in your shoes before the Artist In Residence? 

I just looked at the project I had going on at that time. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I wish I had been more present which may have come from better planning.  I also allowed a bad relationship to distract me from giving my all to the courses and to my time here. I wish I could start over and re-do some of it. I’ve got to take it as a lesson moving forward, that I and my career come first. 

What are your hopes and goals for the next 6 months? 

I don’t really have any projects going on but I do want to up my DJ skills and I would like to sing much more before my time is up. I plan to record an EP with the rest of my time and practise my DJing. If I come up with any more project ideas, I’ll also take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to talk to Reform’s funding lead, Jo. Another, once in a lifetime opportunity. I really have so much gratitude to Reform, I will forever be thankful for what you’ve done for me.

This was made possible by the Hope Continues Project. A partnership between Curious Minds, Hope Streets and The National Heritage Lottery.