Interview: Jayne Peake, King´s College London

Students: At first, we would like to know who you are and what you do?

Jayne: I’m Jayne, I moved from London to Bristol during the pandemic and now work remotely for King’s College London in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. I work at the intersection of the social sciences and the arts. I aim to infuse creative practices into research and education. This involves connecting artists with researchers to challenge ways of approaching a subject, giving students opportunities to take part in visual arts projects, movement workshops and curation, and also championing creative methods as a key way to support learning and well-being.

S: What was your professional path to your current position?

J: My professional career started in sales and marketing, then events management and finally communication. My passion was always dance. I did as much as possible in my spare time until in 2013 when ‘the call’ came to pursue it as a potential vocation. After having studied dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, I went back into work with a new vision for how movement can impact anyone, not just those keen on dance, and the power that our bodies have on our mind as well as our health. In my role at King’s I can use my knowledge of the mind-body connection to offer new approaches to teaching which are usually not accessible within a social science faculty.

S: How did you come to be a part of the ARTHEWE developer team?

J: A colleague who I had worked with on a project using contact improvisation passed the application to join the consortium which spiked my interest. I had already been working hard to evidence the value of using arts-based practices across my faculty and was excited to join with others to gather momentum and support to enable change to happen across my university.

S: What do you think wellbeing is? Why do you think it’s important to promote creative wellbeing? What kind of things you find especially significant?

J: Well-being for me is when I feel whole and healthy in my mind, my body and my soul. Beauty and nature help me feel well. Spending time and having fun with friends also helps. Being able to move my body and to express myself through dance, music, and drawing keeps me feeling both physically and emotionally well.

I want to give equal opportunity to students of all disciplines to experience a different mode of acquiring knowledge that allows alternative ways of seeing the world and their place in it. For me, creativity is inherent in all of us, and my job is to find ways to draw that out of people, in a way to help them re-connect with their inner child, with their imagination, play and potential. The arts can transport us into a different realm. When we are immersed in painting, dancing or singing we can give our brains a ‘holiday’ and allow ourselves to be present.

S: What kind of things do you enjoy in your free time? Do you have any hobbies in regard of arts and culture?

J: I love going to see shows and musicals. I practice Pilates, and of course, contact improvisation and run classes on Bodywork which teach us to sensitize to our body and connect with others with sensitivity and care. I enjoy experimenting with acrylics and watercolours, creating prayer collages and paintings to inspire me on my journey.

S: Do you have any greetings that you want to send to the readers of the ARTHEWE website?

J: We are happy that you found us! I hope that you find our work inspiring and you will join us in champion arts- based teaching and practices in your institutions. Welcome to the family!

Jayne Peake participated in the project 1.9.2020-31.8.2022.