Syeda became a member of the Art&Design Saturday Club at Nottingham Trent University in 2019, shortly after moving to England. She is now pursuing a degree in Textile Design at the same university. Here, Syeda shares her story of joining the Club and how it impacted her at the time and her future choices.
What sparked your interest in attending a Saturday Club?
I was sat in my art class at school and the teacher handed us leaflets about the university Art&Design Saturday Club and I thought it was a great opportunity as I wanted to pursue my career in art. I was new to the country as well as the culture and knew nothing about how everything worked. It was quite a stressful time in school but going to the Club every Saturday was a good distraction and it gave me the courage and confidence to believe in myself and I learned a lot of new things.
At first, as I was speaking a different language, I couldn’t really understand the tutor or the other Club members. The teachers were really sweet and helpful and made me feel like I was part of the community. I learned how to convey my message through my work and through my words. Slowly I came to realise that we’re all the same person – we all like doing art.
Can you share some of your most memorable moments?
I went on a London trip (The Visit) to the Tate and it was my first time going that far without any of my family members. I had so much fun doing the activities, making new friends and experiencing the art of being myself. It was also the first time I learned to take inspiration from other artists work and see the different mediums they use.
In what ways did the Club shape your next steps?
I chose Nottingham Trent as my first university choice because I had learned how many facilities the university had and how it will help me boost my skills and knowledge in the design world. The Saturday Club was a good time to explore how university life works, the places that are nearby, the commute
and how peaceful the area was. I thought I was going to go into a photography career but then we
started doing prints and drawing and I got to realise I liked doing crafty bits, getting paint all over my hands and sewing, so that’s the reason I chose to study textiles. I love the course and it was the perfect choice for me.
I want to be a textile designer, specialising in embroidery. My passion lies in upcycling and recycling, and my ultimate goal is to establish myself as an embroidery artist.
What did you love most about your time at the Saturday Club?
Every Saturday that I attended was the best Saturday of my lifetime. I appreciate and respect all the staff
behind it to make it such a positive and beautiful time for me while I was there. One of the things I loved most was that whatever we did, we did it together. Whether we were working on art projects or just having lunch, we’d always sit together. That really stood out to me because, after moving here, I realised how busy life is, and you don’t often get the chance to sit together with others, like you do with family. It was memorable – whether we were eating, painting, or doing self-portraits, we were all together.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the printing sessions. I loved them so much they became my favourite, and I even carried that interest into college.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering joining the National Saturday Club, what would it be?
I’d like to say that it is a really good opportunity if you want to expand your career choices, it just gives you a lot of options and gives you a chance to communicate with others and build your network, even if you’re not interested in art. It was the best experience of my life.
Interview conducted and edited by Suprina Thapa