EAGG meets Katrina Man, Contemporary Arts Curator and Community Producer
- Eileen Wada Willett
- 12 minutes ago
- 9 min read
EAGG has been keen to chat with Katrina Man for ages, but this arts world dynamo has both hands full of projects and it is only now we have managed to grab some time with her. Katrina's 10 years' experience in the world of contemporary arts as both curator and community producer as well as her intersectional approach and experiences as a mixed-race (half Chinese, Hong Kong; half English), state-school-educated woman born and bred in London makes for a fascinating narrative. She has been planning and delivering ambitious art projects such as exhibitions, events and community-focused programmes across non-profit (including Arts Council National Portfolio Organisations), museum/gallery, public programme, consultancy, and independent project contexts. This includes work with Kakilang (East and Southeast Asian arts non-profit), the Mayor of London’s office, and The Hepworth Wakefield museum. Katrina's mission is to make the arts sector more inclusive, diverse and sustainable, enabling more people to participate and thrive in the arts.
Read on to hear Katrina's journey through the arts world as well as her thoughts on her heritage.
Katrina, you are a curator, an art producer and an art consultant with a deep interest in supporting under-represented artists and institutions. Why is this mission so important to you personally and professionally?
I thoroughly believe that empathy is what makes the world go round and that arts can play a vital role in facilitating empathy and understanding between people and within ourselves. Through my work, I want to harness the transformative power of the arts to communicate nuanced ideas and emotions to others, to help people connect with themselves, as well as to connect with one another through shared creative experiences. I believe arts can play central roles in helping us navigate what it means to be human, especially in the world today with many complex issues globally regarding politics, the environment, technology, race, gender, sexuality, ableism, and class. Unfortunately the arts still has a lot of barriers to entry and too often only the privileged few can access and succeed in this space, which is inherently unfair. I want to address this imbalance and do what I can to amplify the voices and experiences of those who are typically under-represented so that the arts can truly be for everyone.
On a more personal level, I strive to make the most of my mixed heritage (being half Chinese from HK and half English), namely leveraging my white privilege and the education, resources, and incredible arts and culture I have had access to growing up in London to support those who experience barriers in the arts. Throughout, I am simultaneously informed by my Chinese heritage and my family’s immigrant experiences of coming to the UK in the 70s from the New Territories in HK to provide a better life for my Dad and his siblings. They survived through hard work and resilience - running takeaways and working in restaurants - to build the opportunity-rich life me and my family have today. I want to harness my family’s strong work ethic and sense of duty and responsibility to do what I can to continue to uplift Global Majority communities in the UK, as well as others who have traditionally been overlooked and, in worse cases, actively discriminated against.
Finally, I do this work to support under-represented voices as I am innately values driven - definitely something from my family! I need my work and life to feel meaningful and impactful. This is what gives me a sense of purpose, motivation and drive in life. I am also naturally extroverted and love connecting with people and bringing people together - an approach to life that very much facilitates my work. Enabling this connection nourishes my soul, inspires me and consistently widens my horizons, mind and world view, meaning I am always learning and growing as a person which I love.
What originally drew you into the world of the arts? What advice would you have for someone looking to walk down that road?
I grew up in London and am lucky that my parents have always valued creativity, arts and culture. They took my sister and I to museums, galleries and cultural/heritage places, namely National Trust places (been to most of the ones in the South of England!), throughout our childhood. They very much encouraged creativity at home and school, and supported creative career paths. Fortunately, the local state-school in southeast London I went to had brilliant art, technology and design departments, meaning I did everything from printing to woodwork to metal work at school, and they supported me getting into a History of Art undergraduate course.
Through engaging with the arts from a young age I realised how expressive and freeing art can be. The world of arts is so vast and rich in terms of medium, form, subject matter, process of creation, display/presentation methods, audience/viewer reception/interaction, historical context etc., that I find it endlessly stimulating and enriching. In the arts I am always learning and encountering something new, and I find it can really help to keep your eyes, ears, heart, and mind open to the world.
Regarding advice for someone wanting to get into the arts world, I would say really hone in on what your voice and point of view is. Ask yourself: what do you have to say or contribute? The reality is there are so many artists and creative professionals out there, so if you want to have an impact and do exciting things in the arts you need to be able to harness your uniqueness and refine your individual skills and voice.
If you want to be recognised and respected for what you do in the arts, have your finger on the pulse. Go out and about and experience art - from grassroots spaces such as artists studios to institutional work like museum shows. Make an effort to connect with relevant people, ideas, organisations, and communities, and always pursue opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills. This could be as simple as listening to an interesting podcast or attending a free talk. There is so much (too much sometimes!) out there to tap into. I would also encourage people to be open-minded and experiment: try that whacky clowning workshop or go to that unconventional performance event! You never know what you will learn or who you can meet. Like many industries, the arts is a lot about networks - who you know and who knows you - but you really can build your own networks. Seek out groups to connect with and activities to do, show up as yourself and take a genuine interest in the people and environment around you. This will help you make meaningful connections with like-minded people and may even lead to collaborations and/or future work.
On a more practical note, know who you are and know your worth. Be prepared to say no and put boundaries in place. The arts is 24/7 and can take over your whole life, which can be very stimulating and exciting but it can easily lead to burnout. Unfortunately the arts can also be rife with exploitation, whether intentional or not, so it is important to have your wits about you to make sure you are operating and being treated in a way that is right and sustainable for you. For example, learning how to negotiate your fee/salary and discuss working conditions and deliverables is key.
I would also encourage being open-minded and trying out different things in the arts. For example, I never thought I would work in theatre as my passion is visual arts, but through a recent job I ended up working on various theatre projects which have been some of the most interesting and challenging projects in my career so far!
Do not be too hung up on titles, especially when freelance. I know the idealised myth of being a curator is very sought after by many people who enter the arts but I have found that jobs where my official title was things like ‘Project Manager’ or ‘Project Coordinator’ have also been very stimulating and rewarding and meant that I have worked on some brilliant projects. You may still be doing many things that a curator often does, and it can be equally fulfilling. Not every project requires you to be the curator: there are times where you need to step back to allow other voices to be platformed. For example, I worked as the Project Manager for a group exhibition called BLACK JOY! Up Close and Personal at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, organised by the Playing the Race Card collective. This 4-month exhibition featured over 40 multi-disciplinary Black artists’ work, from painting to textile to video, exploring the theme of Black Joy. Here it was appropriate for me, as a non-black person, to take a more behind the scenes role and support those that have first-hand experience of being a part of this community, namely the curator and project lead, to deliver the project. This was a very enjoyable and fulfilling project.
Finally, I advise having integrity and being realistic. Sometimes we need to do “money jobs” to make it work in the arts! This can include admin or front of house jobs, which are valuable jobs in their own right.
You are half Hong Kong Chinese and half White English living and working in the UK. What perspective and experiences do you feel this mixed heritage given you? What advice would you have for others who share a mixed East Asian and White heritage?
I think it has allowed me to have a more nuanced outlook and approach to life, which I am very grateful for. It has also developed my emotional intelligence and empathy being a part of two at times very different and distinct cultures, which are valuable life skills.
As much as possible I would encourage people to embrace the specificities of both sides of their heritage and have an intersectional approach to their identity. Embrace the nuance and messiness of being a part of two often very different cultures and the unique, expansive world view it can give you.
In this Year of the Fire Horse, where do you see this new double fire energy taking you?
Being bold and taking more risks both professionally and personally. This involves being authentically and unapologetically myself and living proudly and loudly by my values! I have also been really leaning into my “why”, namely seeking out and revelling in my passions to fully tap into what makes me feel energised and propels me forward in life. So far this has included experiencing experimental art performances, doing my first life drawing class, doing some public speaking on my art experiences and missions, plus working on getting some new projects off the ground …!
As an arts professional, what are your top tips for some fantastic cultural experiences to tap into in London and beyond?
Ah there are so many!
Here are a few.
For hidden gems in London, I recommend:
Sir John Soane Museum - especially the painting room which has a very unique display/storage method and the basement full of curiosities. Try to do an evening candlelit tour if you can.
Eltham Palace - a stunning heritage house with an incredible mix of styles comprising a medieval hall and 20th century art deco living spaces.
Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath - another heritage house with amazing furnishings and a world-class collection of Old Masters works that are rare to see in a domestic setting, including an outstanding Rembrandt self-portrait.
Beyond London
The Hepworth Wakfield museum in Yorkshire - I did an internship here when I did my Masters in York and it is such a fantastic institution with an excellent permanent collection plus brilliant exhibitions programme. It also has some of the friendliest invigilators I have ever come across. Architecturally it is also fantastic, as attested by my architect Dad’s impressed fixation on the building’s fittings, windows etc. when we visited! It looks like it emerges from the River Calder.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Yorkshire - the perfect blend of epic nature and world-renowned art. Plus some very brazen sheep who climb over the multi-million pound Henry Moore sculptures!
Watt’s Gallery - an amazing gallery, studio, house and chapel site that has a magnificent mix of intimate artistic life, majestic artwork, domesticity and the soul-nourishing effects of nature with the pretty grounds and natural materials throughout, including wood, stone, and ceramics.
Beyond UK
Louisiana Art Museum in Copenhagen - one of my favourites! Top quality art exhibitions - saw an incredible Yayoi Kusama retrospective there - and great permanent collection, including a stunning Alberto Giacometti sculpture gallery overlooking the beautiful grounds. I may or may not have taken a nap in the sculpture gallery when visiting once as it was so calming …
Finally, East Asian Girl Gang is all about celebrating a shared cultural and ethnic heritage. What does it mean to you and why did you join?
For me, being part of East Asian Girl Gang is all about the celebration of ESEA women, solidarity, and sharing resources, knowledge and experiences in a supportive community environment. I believe it is so key in life to build community with people who are like-minded and understand your experiences implicitly. I also love how diverse and intergenerational the group is with people from different backgrounds and walks of life, making it a truly inspiring and nourishing community to be a part of.
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