An 8th generation Essex legend from place Ockendon with the surname Ockendon. Self-described as a human chipmunk. Paige is the art school lead from TOMA (the other MA). MA level art education in Essex. Taking over from the founder Emma Edmonson (big up!). Paige previously studied there in a previous cohort. The course is designed to be flexible around artists’ lives and overcome the barriers that stop participation in the arts, like money, care, families and time. TOMA is an art school for people from any artistic practice. Previous guest Jo Morrison, the vocal improvising artist, studied there. TOMA is a place to become an artist, and stay an artist. Paige previously worked at Metal in Southend, which is an artistic engagement programme across all arts disciplines. TOMA is a place to build artistic skills, but also gain knowledge, references, and an artistic network through the studies and practice. When you complete the course you are awarded a ceramic sausage on a fork (YES REALLY!) as a symbol of your graduation and made by TOMA ceramicist Richard Baxter. Care, learning and being together to collaborate is the ‘TOMA way’. Paige’s TOMA cohort was during COVID so it became virtual. The curriculum gets built around the people on the course - wanna be a stonemason… no problem! Paige studied fine art, then tried to get a job in art… and after a load of weird jobs she ended up at Metal. The art landscape of Essex suddenly unfolded because of that job. Paige loves connecting people and producing with artists and working with community engagement. She is a cheerleader for projects. Nick talks about acting in Will Norman’s ‘The Oddersey’ shot on iMacs. Paige’s creative superpower is ADMIN - she loves ExCel and spreadsheets! Spreadsheets are the place that art projects can become real and mapped. Paige’s peak working time is 4pm, just in case you want any admin done! Applying for creative project funding is not often in the skillset of creative people. Paige is the producer for Creative Breaktime, working with teachers in Essex to see if creativity can help with teacher retention. Collaboration over competition will make Essex arts stronger. TOMA has a sliding scale of fees to help people apply, and holds 70% of spaces for people from Essex. What are TOMA looking for in applicants? Find out by listening...

Toma on Instagram
Toma website
Paige website
Creative Breaktime

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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