Natasha Joseph is a producer and mural artist from Bangalore, India, based in Leeds. After graduating from BA (Hons) Fine Art in 2019, she founded We Belong Here CIC, a community-focused arts organisation. Their practice is deeply rooted in purposeful community-led art with a focus on access, diversity and inclusion. Over the last seven years, Natasha has worked with over 700 residents in local community spaces delivering creative workshops and painting murals. They aim to create community-engaged art that makes the city a more open and vibrant place and helps people engage in creative activity.
Profile
Natasha Joseph
Alumni
BA (Hons) Fine Art
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"Since I was applying from India, I was being interviewed online and had never been to a lot of the cities where the universities were based. Leeds Arts University stood out to me the most because they felt welcoming and inclusive and their Fine Art course was exactly what I was looking for."
Natasha Joseph, BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate and Funded Studio Space resident
Natasha is a resident at Aire Street Workshops as part of the Careers, Employability and Enterprise team’s Funded Studio Space scheme. Natasha is using the residency to work on multiple public art projects including a large-scale stone floor piece in Halifax and planning five to six community-engaged murals in Leeds for the summer of 2024.
"When I came to England, everything was different from what I had grown up with. The university was very welcoming and helped guide me as I set up a whole new life, in a whole new country. From simple things like starting a new bank account or checking in with my wellbeing, I found both the international team and my course leaders were very keen to make sure I felt settled and at home. The careers department was instrumental to my staying in the UK after I graduated. Their advice in my third year helped me get sponsorship and eventually a work visa. I would not have been able to stay in the UK, working successfully as a creative for the past 5 years without them!"
Natasha Joseph, BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate and Funded Studio Space resident
Natasha continued; “Without the careers team, I would probably not be where I am now! Their resources, programmes and opportunities helped support my creative development as a professional artist not just during university but also long after I graduated. They went above and beyond to support me whenever I needed help, had a question or needed a sounding board. During my start-up visa sponsorship with Leeds Arts University from 2019-2021, they helped support me as I started an arts business in the middle of a pandemic. I think having them there by my side every step of the way has contributed to a lot of my success.”
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Jurassic Candy-Land Mural (2021) by We Belong Here. Designed and painted by 7-11 year-olds as part of the 'Healthy Holidays' scheme at New Wortley Community Centre, Armley.