Culture, Arts and Refugees
Janna Eliot
 | Janna EliotWriter, member of Exiled Writers Ink! |
Biography
A Londoner from an immigrant background, I write novels, articles, poems and stories, and review books with Romani themes for various magazines and online websites.
I've taught English in Russia, Ukraine, France and Spain, and to refugees in London. Other jobs include acting, art therapist in a Psychiatric Unit and music therapist in a Day Centre.
I supplement my income by painting the Gypsy designs I learnt from my grandmother onto reclaimed furniture, which I sell at fairs. I play guitar with the London Gypsy Orchestra and I'm a member of Exiled Writers' Ink! and The Gypsy Council.
PLN Experience
"NO WAY!"—That was my response when I was invited to join Creative Peer Network. I thought it would be a time-wasting experience and immediately deleted the email. Then, one Sunday evening, Jennifer Langer from Exiled Writers phoned and asked me to stand in for her at the first meeting.
I walk down the stairs. A group of strangers are sitting round tables, drinking coffee, talking confidently about evidencing and monitoring. I feel out of place. I'm only a writer, who occasionally chairs events at Exiled Writers Ink. I don't understand what these people are talking about. Nervously, I prod the complicated coffee jug, pretending I know how it works. Boiling water jets onto the biscuit tray.
First session. We file into a room with a screen. My heart sinks. It's going to be one of those dreary Power Point presentations. I squint at the words on the screen, trying to keep up. Then, one of the group challenges the speaker. Energy pours out of her as she wildly gesticulates. Someone else argues the point. And a discussion gets going. I begin to understand the point of this evidencing and purpose stuff. At lunch-break I ask the organiser if I can join the Network too.
As we have more meetings, I learn about funding, publicity, marketing, monitoring, prioritising, and the importance of lobbying. I also get the opportunity to go on a very useful study visit to Stockholm.
Study Visit Report
Click here to read Janna’s Study Visit Report