Lasana Hodge-Lake

I'm a Lecturer and Interdisciplinary Artist with 20 years experience devising and leading arts, education and cultural projects and programmes as a facilitator, mentor, director and project manager. I originally trained as an actor at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, which culminated with my first artist residencies with Theatre Company MC theater and Imagine IC in Amsterdam, Holland. Since then I have received commissions and funding from The Rothschild Foundation, Arts council England, The British Council, The Tate and the British Museum to name a few. My work is also a permanently featured in Manchester Art Gallery whilst also being used by artist Sonia Boyce who won the 2022 Venice Biennale with it. I have extensive experience through out my career working with children and young people within institutions, organisations community settings and primary and secondary schools. This has included at risk young people, NEETS (Not in education, employment or training), EAL (English as an additional language) and neurodivergence. I am regularly DBS checked and have received numerous forms of Safeguarding  and CPD training through educational institutions and organisations which I more than happy to do again in addition to any other required training. Additionally I have also worked with adults up to the age of 75 within workshops and arts programmes nationally and internationally.

Lecturer and Director- university of West London: (Sep' 2022-Present)

Lead lecturer for BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance and acting students and Director for  BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen productions.

Artist- Words Matter-UCL: (May 2024-Present)

Created a film, sculpture and performance for Words Matter commission at UCL. Managed a small staff and a £25,000 budget. The final work is to be exhibited at UCL'S East London campus as part of their Words Matter exhibition.

Mentor and Trainer- Association of Independent Museums/A.I.M- (Jan' 2021-Dec' 2024)

Mentored independent museums on their commissions through A.I.M nationally. Led training for museum outreach staff at national conferences. All mentored museums were able to expand engagement and complete their commission goals. This has led to some museums branching out into a new way of working.

Artist and Facilitator- Story of me/Mercury Theatre: (Sept' 2021-Jul' 2023)

Working with schools in Barking and Dagenham to decolonise school’s curriculum through devised and led CPDs, developing and facilitating school programmes. Outreach and public speaking at national teacher conferences. Children involved in the scheme of work developed confidence to emotionally communicate their needs as well as academically. The schools were able to disseminate new approaches to inclusive educational work to existing and new teachers. The schools were also able to have a tangible example of the benefits and of being brave and trying a new approach.

BA (Hons) Acting and Performance at Queen Margaret University (Edinburgh)

Trinity College Bronze, Silver and Gold Arts Award Advisor