This week I interviewed for, and secured, a job as a Photography Assistant working for the DMLL in conjunction with Age Concern Coventry and the local Belgrade Theatre. The photography would be used to document weekly drama sessions, to show the participants their progress and would also be a way to relay this progress to Coventry University’s research team and their backers. The project will run for approximately 11 weeks, culminating with a photography exhibition and film screening of the work produced at the Belgrade Theatre to students, the general public and the University’s research team.
“Arts Gymnasium is part of the Belgrade Theatre’s Community & Education programme, and uses theatre and arts activities to contribute to the quality of life and positive well-being of people living in Coventry. These sessions are exclusively for people aged 50 and over, and run once a week during school term time at the Belgrade Theatre.”
In my role as Photography Assistant, working alongside a small film crew who I will also be assisting at times, I will need to make the drama students as comfortable as possible with having me and my camera around. So, for the first few weeks, I will be attending sessions without my camera and just taking part in classes, alongside students, so they can get to know me and exactly why I’m there. Hopefully once they know more about my role and how I can help them tell their stories through my photography, and through the film crew’s documentary, I am hoping they will welcome us into their group.
tara rutledge 