We had a chat with Veronica Asenso Afriyie, a multi-disciplinary artist, DJ and founder of the creative studio, STUDIO 27°. A brand that prioritises the well-being of artists, artistic expression and racial and gender equity in the creative industries.
Veronica shares her experience as an Echo member and an early-stage entrepreneur, including some insights about the launch of STUDIO 27° and the challenges of being a solopreneur.
Who are you and what is STUDIO 27° in a nutshell?
I’m a multi-disciplinary creative and founder of STUDIO 27°. A creative studio that prioritises the well-being of artists, artistic expression and racial & gender equity in the creative industries.
What problem do you solve for others?
There’s a range of societal problems I'm addressing. The lack of representation and opportunities for women and non-binary artists, the lack of physical and mental health and creative well-being practices for artists, the inaccessibility to spaces, gender-based violence (incl. harassment and abuse of power) and more.
How has Echo shaped your entrepreneurial journey?
Echo has been and continues to be a great resource for business support. I’ve met kind and caring people who genuinely want you to succeed, people with great knowledge, people who are experts in their chosen fields and professionals running their own businesses.
What have you learned from Echo?
I’ve learned how to adjust my DIY PR strategy and hone in on my resources and skills, understand the basics of event and risk management and I've received feedback and tips to sharpen up my social media marketing skills. Echo has been a great way to access valuable expert advice and opportunities to upskill as a solo entrepreneur, which is crucial when building a business at its earliest stages.
Why do you think it is important to support people in the creative industry?
It’s important to acknowledge the many obstacles that exist upon entering and operating in the creative industry. Having a community to reach out to, to fall back on and to support you is paramount, especially when you’re navigating in spaces that are predominantly male and white-dominated. There’s still a lot of work to be done regarding representation across race and gender, accessibility to resources and space, accessibility to digital tools for artistic creation and distribution and the physical and mental health of artists.
What can we expect from the launch night in May?
The launch is an intimate film screening of independent short films and documentaries by women & non-binary filmmakers followed by art, music and networking. It will be the first public event to introduce the brand and give people the opportunity to learn about various talented artists that they may not have come in contact with.
You can expect a variety of short films and documentaries about rave culture, queer representation, black women in the UK Grime & Drill scene and more. The art exhibition will display photography, abstract paintings, sculptural footwear and an experimental art documentary.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite and Instagram - concession tickets are available for those with a lower income. Please email S27DEGREES@gmail.com for a unique code.
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