Gold Arts Award and university place for young person working with Royal Pavilion & Museums!

Fern Hallam, aged 20, has been awarded a Gold Arts Award, securing her place at university! Fern joined us in February 2012 to complete her Bronze Award as part of the Royal Pavilion & Museums’ partnership programme with the Prince’s Trust.

“I left school without any qualifications, due to my anxiety I could not take my exams. This left me with very little confidence in myself. I had a passion for photography which I wanted to explore but I couldn’t cope with going to college, so when my connexions worker told about the bronze arts award course at Brighton museum with The Princes Trust, that was only a week long, we both thought this would be a great way to ease me back into education. It felt great getting back into education and it was such a positive experience for me, though I had a panic attack I got such support from everyone involved I was able to go on and complete it and get my bronze arts award certificate. I made some new friends; it also helped me to gain some confidence and some new skills.

I went on to do my silver arts award, I was then asked if I would like to go straight on to do my gold arts award as I was already working at gold level. I have had so many great opportunities from doing my arts awards, from my first solo exhibition that gave me such a confidence boost and gave me the skills for future exhibitions, to my one to one workshop with Lynn Weddle who is a professional photographer. The techniques and knowledge I learnt have enabled me to since set up studio lighting for various photo-shoots and has helped me countless times.

Going to university is something that I have always wanted to do but I never thought I’d have the opportunity to, due to my anxiety and leaving school without any qualifications. However I found a foundation degree that the entry requirements were a level 3 qualification in photography and a portfolio of work. Thanks to Brighton museum I have both and was offered a place at the interview, which I have now accepted, I start my course in September. The arts awards and Brighton museum have given me a world of opportunity’s I never thought I could have. The museum feels like a second home to me, I’m very sad to say goodbye. I can’t wait to start a new chapter of my life and start a career in the subject I love, this something that without the help of the staff at Brighton museum and everyone involved in the arts awards I could have never achieved.”

Fern will be exhibiting her work at Brighton Museum on Saturdays and Sundays in May, along with other young people from the Arts Awards group as part of the Artists Open House Festival.

You can also see Fern’s work on her Tumblr.

Hazel Welch, Youth Engagement Officer

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