Alex Rinsler participated in International Arts & Artists J-1 visa program in 2011, when he was a trainee at Feats, Inc. in Baltimore, MD. His exposure to event planning and marketing followed into his production of several events, including HOME in Manchester, which hosted more than 100 events throughout five days, more than 200 artists, and over 15,000 visitors at the opening. We caught up with Alex to hear about his projects and successes in his home country of the United Kingdom.
Looking back, what are your thoughts about your experience at Feats?
I was so lucky to find a home at Feats in Baltimore. I worked with Feats CEO Founder Paul Wolman; through his mentorship I got to experience a successful, mid-size events company in a moment of organisational evolution. Paul is the driver behind many community projects, so I got insight into different aspects of life in Baltimore.
What projects are you working on now in Manchester?
Right now I am writing to you from Helsinki, Finland, where I am a visiting Mobius Fellow, working with Kiasma to help producer URB15, the Urban Arts Festival. And I’ve just returned from South Africa, on a three-week stay with Dr Ricardo Peach of the Free State Arts Festival in Bloemfontein, doing R/D for a large public artwork for next year’s festival. It is strange to go from winter in a hot country to summer in a cold one!
At the end of May, in Manchester (UK) I produced the launch for HOME, a new purpose-built arts centre for international contemporary art, film and theatre. It is a very exciting time to be in the city: there is dynamism behind its varied cultural offer.
What are some of the differences, if any, in working in Manchester versus in your host city, Baltimore?
Every city is uniquely defined by its physical space, by the people who live there and the stories they call their own. Whether it’s ‘I heart MCR’ or ‘Made in Baltimore’ there’s a common drive to use the city’s name and 'brand’ for good, to create imagery and projects that people will be proud of. Both have strong civic identities, long and varied cultural and industrial heritage and large student populations. Both have their share of social and economic challenges.
The language of work is different between the UK and the US. It’s hard to articulate: you guys write emails differently to us. We drink more tea than you do: we even make tea for each other. We get 28 days leave a year, on average - you get 20. Our NHS means we’re not tied to work-based health insurance.
This is academic for me: I’m a freelancer working in arts and culture. Freelancers make up a third of the US workforce now and that’s growing. We don’t have benefits, holiday pay or sick pay. So it’s about building a sustainable pipeline of work, building relationships with people so that they’ll work with you again and recommend you to others, and having a portfolio career that spreads risk.
What advice would you have for someone who is starting an exchange program?
First of all - awesome! You’ve found a great way to learn what it means to live and work in America. It is not easy - you have to make the opportunities for yourself - but the rewards in terms of learning and experience are well worth it. Give yourself permission to miss home - it’s inevitable at some point.
Make the space to look after yourself: eat well, integrate and find friends, get involved in the local communities where you live so you have a life outside your sponsored workplace. In Baltimore I put together an event called 'Ignite for a Better Baltimore’ to bring together the city’s social entrepreneurs. This was a great excuse to talk to everyone and get myself known.
Get a credit card and bank account if you can, and all the things that help you build an independent life. Travel far and wide… just say yes! Set expectations with your sponsor and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need in terms of money, contacts and opportunities. They might not have worked with J1 trainees before, it will help you to be pro-active in setting your goals.
What does cultural exchange mean to you?
Cultural exchange - for me - is how we build trust and bond with people who are different. And it is so important! There’s a lot of shortsightedness, racism and fear, which are right now driving political and economic decisions. These are damaging the planet and leading to conflict. We need more people to stand up and say 'no!: we’ve shared food together, we’ve worked together, we’ve met each other, we understand each other’.
The exchange bit is hard. You don’t build trust through transactions alone, but through human relationships and gifts freely given. Cultural exchange has the risk of the unknown woven through it, and that’s what makes it so exciting.