From Notebook to Network: sharing your creative work for the first time

Welcome back to Culture Talks! 

As an emerging artist, it takes courage to not just create but to share your work with the world. On the podcast this month, we’ve been reflecting on that pivotal moment – the leap from creation to performance, from a private exploration to a public expression.

What makes some of us want to share our work? A message within that needs to be heard? The need for someone to validate us, to confirm we have skill? And for those who don’t feel the urge- can this always be blamed on a negative sense of self-doubt, or can keeping creativity private be an empowering personal choice?

Often, the decision to share isn’t one we make alone.

Taking that initial step can feel like walking a tightrope. The vulnerability is real, the self-doubt can be loud. But what, or more importantly, who, helped you take it?

This month, we had the incredible opportunity to interview Hana Saeed, a poet, creative researcher and cultural leader with an incredible legacy as the city’s Poet Laureate and having newly joined the team at the Peterborough Cultural Alliance.

Hana shared her own experiences of first engaging with local performance poetry networks, beginning with open mic nights, and the warmth and support she received from established local poets who became mentors, colleagues and friends.

The step into sharing your work should be paved with encouragement, constructive feedback, and sometimes, a gentle nudge from someone who sees your potential even when you don’t- but never puts pressure on you, of course!

Which opportunities, however small they seemed at the time, ended up shaping your path? How have you built your own network of support? These networks can be formal or informal- we discussed the new Intercultural Network that Hana also leads for Global Majority artists, open for new creatives to join and offering a flexible, community-led space in the city.

What else is needed in Peterborough to create space for those who want to share their creative outlets, and to include and value those who don’t?