The University of Leeds

Molly Eroje commenced her career in the Arts with her first freelance assignment at The University of Leeds. The University had commissioned Molly to teach hand embroidery classes to students, as part of the University’s “I Belong: Creative Connections” programme.

This arts programme had its conception during the pandemic season of 2021, when loneliness and isolation was at its highest. Molly was positioned at the forefront of the University’s efforts to combat this lack of companionship caused by Covid-19 lockdowns. As their only hand-embroidery tutor, Molly was given the duty to offer human connection through art, to those studying in lockdown.

As defined by Molly, Art is connection, to our external environment, to the world, and to each other. Art is a very human way of interpreting and internalising the things we see and experience outside of ourselves. At The university of Leeds, Molly put this theory into practice, by teaching specialist hand-sewing techniques via webcam to the University’s students.

The embroidery sessions led by Molly were so successful, that the University called her back to lead more sessions, across December 2021 to March 2022.