Prashant found art to project his message
Prashant rediscovered his childhood love for art through City Lit’s Developing Art Practice course. It gave him the freedom to express himself, leading to powerful pieces about inequality and social injustice.
Video: Carla talks about her experiences at City Lit
Prashant's story
“I had an interest in art growing up, but kind of fell in love with subjects around my A Levels,” he shares.
After sixth form, he went on to university, but something didn’t quite fit. The sense of inspiration and personal connection he’d found earlier was missing. So he made the difficult decision to drop out.
“I did carry on making art through the years just independently, without really an idea as to how I would go about building upon that as a profession.”
It was after one of his works was accepted into an open exhibition that he found City Lit, a turning point that would reignite his creative flame.
“I discovered the Developing Art Practice course here at City Lit, and it was wonderful. From the very first day, I could bring the challenges I'd been facing and immediately, I found a really supportive environment for me.”
City Lit became the space where his ideas could breathe. Within his developing arts practice, Prashant began exploring themes of marginalisation within Britain’s working-class communities. With help from tutors, he learned to unpack these topics with confidence and nuance, without the fear of how his work would be perceived.
“I was able to approach these subjects with more awareness and without worrying too much about how others would see them.”
That supportive foundation didn’t just boost his confidence, it gave him momentum. The course echoed the best parts of his early education, reigniting the curiosity and joy of discovering new perspectives. “I was able to find my voice a bit more than I’d previously expected to,” he says.
Now, Prashant feels he has a strong sense of where he’s heading.
“I saw a commission call-out online and it aligned perfectly with what I was doing. I applied and got it.”
Shortly after, he learned about the Arts Council DYCP grant through the course and was awarded the highly competitive funding. “A lot of that success came from having the space at City Lit to interrogate what I wanted to do, and where I wanted to go.”
“My experience on City Lit’s Developing Art Practice course has been truly transformative. It has given me the confidence and insight to pursue a professional career in the arts, along with the practical skills needed to apply for commissions, exhibition opportunities, and Arts Council DYCP funding.”
Find your voice at City Lit
Everyone is uniquely wired, with our own passions and ways of expressing ourselves. Yet many of us haven’t discovered our true voice or have the opportunity to share it. At City Lit, our courses are designed to help you find your voice by exploring your ideas, building your confidence, and unlocking the strengths you never knew you had.
Find your voice at City Lit, today.
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