It’s widely known that creativity has the power to help, heal and harmonise, both within ourselves and the local community, and nobody understands this better than Grace Sodzi-Smith. A craft-loving dynamic leader in the arts industry, she works tirelessly and passionately to design creative programs and build partnerships aimed at nurturing creative talent in the UK.
With previous roles at the Arts Council England and PAPER Arts CIC under her belt, Grace is now a newly appointed Non-Executive Director at the Rising Arts Agency in Bristol. She spends her days working with young creatives fighting for equal representation, value and accessibility within the arts industry – and we’re honoured to have her bringing her wealth of expertise to the table as a judge for the 2025 ClassBento Awards!
We caught up with Grace for a chat about fighting for change in the arts sector, her dream creative collaboration and what she’s really looking for in a stand–out entry to the ClassBento Awards this year. So grab a cuppa, put your feet up and read on to get inspired!
My career in creative and social innovation grew from my own personal experiences…
It all happened quite organically for me. Between the ages of 15 and 18 I suffered quite badly with mental health issues and found crafting a way to help me recover. This led to me setting up my first social enterprise, running mental health craft workshops, because I wanted to raise awareness of the importance of looking after your mental health. And since then, I haven't looked back!
My roles at Arts Council England and PAPER Arts CIC changed the way I support creative projects…
Whilst leading PAPER Arts, I discovered an immense amount of young creative talent in Bristol and it made me even more passionate about making sure there are plenty of opportunities to support them. Ensuring the right infrastructure is there to support creative projects is key to this, which led me to develop my research skills and take up a role with Arts Council England. Whilst working at ACE I learnt more about how the creative sector operates, and the kinds of support arts organisations need.
My work with Rising Arts Agency made me even more determined to support emerging artists…
It has really confirmed my lived experience that it is incredibly tough to be an emerging artist, especially if how you identify is underrepresented in the sector. A lot of the systems aren't set up for those without connections, and there are a number of 'invisible' barriers which Rising Arts are working to change.
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I stay inspired by connecting with other artists and creatives…
I make sure I stay linked in with artists and creatives that excite me; either through keeping up with them on social media, or visiting art galleries, the theatre and so on. People inspire me every day!
I went to an event run by Decolonising Economics, and an artist from Migrants in Culture had designed a zine that took you through the programme but was also educational and a piece of art in itself. It's got pride of place on my mantelpiece currently!
Creativity and social innovation go hand-in-hand…
I really think social innovation is in itself a creative practice. Taking a problem, taking old ideas, and merging it all together to come up with a new solution - it's a bit like painting a picture. It all starts with your imagination and asking what's possible!
My dream creative collaboration would be…
Audre Lorde, for sure. If I could have her as a creative writing mentor or teacher, my life would be complete! If you don't know, she was a writer, professor, philosopher, intersectional feminist, poet, civil rights activist and absolute ICON. My favourite quote of hers is this: “When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
I’m excited to be judging the ClassBento Awards…
I'm really looking forward to finding out about so many more creative workshops for me to join and tell my friends about!
Originality is what makes a creative project stand out…
Originality is key for me – what is different about this project? Having a strong back story and meaning behind it really brings things to life for me: I always think that a project that has a clear social impact really stands out.
I’m also looking to see the ways a creative project can be impactful, and one of the main things for me is that it has a real heart behind it. Who is the person behind it, and what is their story?
I look to the participants to evaluate the impact of a project…
I focus on the outcomes – what have the workshop participants gained, both artistically and in the community? It could be the forming of relationships, upskilling in a specific area or just simply having a joyful space to create in. I look at the ripple effect – what's the long-term impact the project has the potential to influence? I usually map on a theory of change to see if I can figure out the long-term benefits.
There’s a new buzz emerging in the arts industry at the moment…
There seems to be more energy in the arts and well-being space recently which really excites me! As someone who started out in this space, and previously volunteered with a social prescribing service, I'm so pleased it's starting to gain traction.
My advice to creatives looking to make a difference through their art…
I would say to think about what it is that angers you, or stirs something within your heart – that is the cause you want to work to solve. And then it's just thinking about your creative talents, and how you can apply those to raise awareness of the issue, or support those struggling. Honestly, the arts and social impact go hand-in-hand so it'll all come quite naturally once you start to think about it.
An expert in craft, community connection and nurturing artistic talent, Grace is fiercely passionate about using her knowledge to help young creatives not only access, but thrive and flourish in the arts industry. Armed with a Master’s Degree in Social Innovation, she skilfully combines her education with lived experience, making her a truly valuable member of the creative sector – and the ideal judge for ClassBento Awards!
If you’re looking for inspiration, either in activism or art, Grace’s story is a great place to start – and we can’t wait to see her in action as a judge!
