YAK Story – Holly
Thanks to our supporters, Holly has gained a creative, welcoming space – building confidence, forming friendships, and taking exciting steps towards a future as a professional illustrator and maker.
The Young Art Kommunity (YAK) programme at Firstsite has had a transformative impact on Holly, providing them with creative space, confidence, and a supportive community at a crucial stage in their development as a young artist.
Before joining YAK, Holly felt isolated and struggled to find space to create at home. Through weekly sessions, support from artists and mentors, and opportunities to exhibit their work, they’ve grown in confidence, made close friendships, and started to see a future for themselves as a professional illustrator and maker.
YAK has also supported Holly’s wellbeing and helped them manage social anxiety. As Holly describes it, YAK is “a creative, fun place, where you yap about anything, eat anything (good snacks!) and can create anything you want!”
Finding space to create
“My room at home is really small with no desk,” Holly explains. “I felt trapped and isolated.”
Coming to YAK gave them the space they needed to spread out and work freely. “I felt really happy coming to YAK – just spreading all my stuff out!” Having access to space, materials, and support helped Holly reconnect with their creativity.
“I felt really happy coming to YAK..."
Finding community
Holly first heard about YAK while they were still at secondary school, when our team visited their school to run art workshops. They were keen to join once they were old enough and had more time alongside school and college.
Since joining, YAK has become a place where Holly has built strong friendships and a support network. “Gaining trust with people and making friends… and hanging out together outside of YAK meetings – like going for dog walks.”
Like many YAK members, Holly values the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a creative community, helping them feel less isolated and more connected.
“Gaining trust with people and making friends… and hanging out together outside of YAK meetings - like going for dog walks.”
Confidence and wellbeing
Spending time with supportive, kind people has helped Holly build confidence and manage social anxiety. “Socialising with real, actual people who are nice and caring made a big difference,” they say.
As their confidence has grown, Holly has also been able to support others within the group. “I’ve also been able to help other YAK members who are maybe struggling with college work or their mental health,” they explain. YAK creates space for young artists to both receive and offer support, strengthening peer relationships and resilience.
“Socialising with real, actual people who are nice and caring made a big difference.”
Learning from artists and mentors
One of the most valuable aspects of YAK for Holly has been access to supportive staff and mentors. “Beth (Children, Young People and Families Programme Manager) – I feel like I can ask anything about the art industry,” they say, highlighting how important it is to have trusted adults who understand creative pathways.
Holly also found inspiration in hearing about the lived experiences of artists and curators. Learning about George’s (Programme Manager, Exhibitions) experiences of growing up with dyslexia and spending time in hospital helped them feel understood and less alone. “It made me trust him and empathise with his similar experiences,” they explain.
“I feel like I can ask anything about the art industry,”
Participating in Firstsite exhibitions
A major highlight of Holly’s time at YAK was taking part in a Firstsite exhibition. Seeing their work included in YAK: Gen Z Dreaming (2024) was a huge confidence boost. “George, the curator, putting most of my work up… it gave me such a morale boost. It made me so happy to see my work in a gallery space!”
This experience helped Holly begin to see themselves as a professional artist and imagine new creative possibilities.
“George, the curator, putting most of my work up… it gave me such a morale boost. It made me so happy to see my work in a gallery space!”
Looking ahead
Being part of YAK has helped Holly imagine new possibilities for the future. “I can actually see myself as a professional illustrator and maker,” they say. They’re now thinking about creating stationery products and continuing to develop their practice.
The creativity of other YAK members also inspires Holly. “People in YAK are so creative – I love it! I get inspiration every week from looking at other people’s sketchbooks.”
“People in YAK are so creative - I love it! I get inspiration every week from looking at other people’s sketchbooks.”
Donate Today
Your support helps us run programmes that bring people together through creativity, including:
- Holiday Fun workshops for children and families
- Community art sessions for people who feel isolated
- The Young Art Kommunity (YAK) supporting emerging young artists
All donations received will help us to keep Firstsite open and free. For everyone.
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