Holly Watkins-New

Producer

As a teenager…

Growing up in Lancaster, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing community arts, whether it was going to festivals with the Melodrome stage or taking part in the Dukes. There were many opportunities to spark my creative side, and I made sure to get involved in as many as possible. I learnt quickly that academics weren’t my strong suit, so school became a place to feel small; however, when I was on stage or knee deep in a craft project, I felt so much more at home.
I was pretty shy in high school and struggled putting myself out there, meaning friends didn’t come easily, but the arts really built my confidence. It always felt like a gathering of people who didn’t feel comfortable anywhere else, so it never felt as intimidating and gave me the space to be myself.

 

 

After School…

I had no idea what I wanted from my future at this point, except to travel. I’d worked jobs through high school to save up and start to see the world. Unfortunately, COVID had other plans. So after a failed, very short stint at university, I came back to Lancaster and worked in the kitchen at The Old Gun Shop (formerly The Herbarium), falling in love with food and travelling Europe as much as I could while saving for my next adventure.
This took me to Canada, where I lived and worked for 2 years, immediately falling head over heels for the mountains, lakes, and magnificent wildlife. I found a job at a Food Bank and Community Centre, where I spent my time getting to know the local community and trying to support however I could. Alongside this, I had the privilege of running a few community arts and queer groups. This was a glimpse into a world I knew I wanted to be a part of.

 

 

And Now…

Back in Lancaster and honoured to be part of the wonderful team at Escape 2 Make! Being thrown back in the local world of arts, music, and creativity has been a beautiful whirlwind, and I’m loving being able to help create opportunities for young people who have so much talent and creativity to share.

5 bits of advice to my teenage self…

  • Surround yourself with people who build you up. One of the few things you can control in life is who you choose to surround yourself with. So it's important to make sure they build you up, not tear you down.
  • Say YES to opportunities and new skills. I have never regretted saying yes to chances (within reason), it doesn’t mean they were all successful, but I never regret the knowledge I learnt, and the skills I take with me to the next stage of life.
  • Remember your boundaries. I’m good at letting people in, but learning where to draw the line is just as important, definitely a skill I’m still learning to master!
  • Take the chance to meet new people. The things I cherish most from life are the people I’ve met. It’s scary to put yourself out there, but it’s always worth meeting someone new and finding a new perspective.
  • Confidence comes from within. When I started to realize that my opinion of myself should matter the most, the confidence grew with it. If I’m happy and proud of choices I make, then it doesn’t matter if it all goes wrong in a big, fiery mess!

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