Cara is one of our Creative Associates at Fio and has been working with us for over a year now! As she has done some amazing stuff both with Fio and outside of her role here, we thought that it would be great to let her introduce herself to our community and share some of the brilliant things that she’s worked on so far! Here’s what she had to say!

As a young emerging artist in Cardiff, it has been a challenge to navigate my way through the creative scene. However with the help of Fio from 2020 until now I have been able to find my feet and have gained confidence in emerging myself more creatively. Now, 19, perusing a Foundation Art and Design course at the Arts Academy Cardiff, being a Youth Advisory Board Member and a Creative Associate of Fio, the journey is only just beginning.

Starting where it all truly began for me, in 2021 at the Landing Bolts first R&D. A life changing experience to say the least, as it exposed me to the potential of creativity for global majority people like myself in Cardiff. This was amplified after being promoted to a more advisory role in the R&D where I was able and I open my eyes to what I was able to create: my first piece of commissioned art, being valued as an artist and contributing to discussions in the space. After this experience I continued to work with Fio as the team helped navigate the next steps in my creative career: leading to me becoming a Creative Associate in 2021.

2022 was the personification of the discussions around steps forward for me. From participating on a panel discussion for the theatre company Hijinx, which oriented around inclusivity. To also being one of 10 creatives on the second RnD for Landing Bolts in the summer, creating set pieces and murals for the performance. To also partaking on a panel discussion with the Woman’s Equality Network about diversity and inclusion in the arts. As well as, most recently completing a mural for The Fio Office. Achieving these initial aims only motivated me to think about what more I could accomplish.

This lead me to think outside of my work with Fio and how I could elevate my craft. Resulting in my work being featured at the “Black Joy” exhibition with Welsh Gifted and Black and the “Art Comes to Life” and “Taste of Africa” exhibitions with the Alienated Magazine.

This push expanded to me contribution to community projects around Cardiff. For example, I am now apart of the “Heritage Project” with the Sub-Saharan advisory Panels Youth leadership Network. I have also closely worked with the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) for a number of years; most notably since 2020 as a member of the Maker-space project which concluded in 2022 . Along with my work with the Youth Collective: a collective of young people who help advise the centre on the needs and wants of young people. In addition I am currently an artist in residence at WMC until the 15th of December in which she will explore themes inspired by the book “Sugar and Slate”.

If it wasn’t for my experiences with Fio I would never have thought I had a place in this creative scene and wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have in the recent years. I am excited for future projects with Fio and how I can further develop as an artist, watch this space!

Getting to know... our Creative Associate, Cara Walker