For Mekhala, studying Modern & Contemporary Art: History, Curating & Criticism at ECA, fostered her love of both art and law and encouraged her to pursue her interests in the field.

Mekhala was able to offer support and pro-bono legal advice to artists and art organisations based in Edinburgh and Glasgow throughout her studies and since graduating has been able to continue both her work as a lawyer and her studies through a PhD.

Why I choose to study at ECA

Prior to studying at ECA, I worked as a lawyer for artists and art workers, advocating for their working conditions, legal issues such as facilitating, marketing and regulating of the art market, and other global human rights concerns for artistic practices. At ECA, the unique program offered by Angela Dimitrakaki and her core team, focused on these areas from art history, theory and curating. The repertoire of research, teaching and support offered by her and her core team on the programme shaped my approach of thinking about art, artistic practices, and research methodologies as it also encouraged me to bridge the gap between two disciplines: law and art.

My time at ECA

My focus at ECA was to unlearn, learn and approach law (the very inaccessible legal language) from the perspective of art theory, history and curating. I find that it paved the way for me to consider and approach my legal practice differently, so I was able to offer, support and give pro bono legal advice to artists and art organisations based in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which I consider very inspiring as it has allowed me to foster and build stronger relations with artists and clients in my legal practice to this very day. 

At ECA, the global contemporary research group lead by Angela Dimitrakaki and her core team was a crucial working group that allowed for a safe space between academics and students alike, to present, think through and recap research strands on a range of diverse issues within globalisation and more. I was also constantly encouraged to develop and lean into my own research interests independently with tremendous support from the program and the working group.

I would highly recommend students and academics, artists’ and art workers participate in the working group for the exchange of ideas, harnessing of resources and opportunity to change the way we see, experience, sense and participate in our culture and society through the lens of art.

If I could start again, I would prefer a longer period of intense study and more of artistic practice (via applied arts) which I think is necessary. A one-year Master's programme that is theoretical is very short and time flies by so quickly. Due to my parent’s terminal illness, I missed my second semester as I was away caregiving for her, yet Angela Dimitrakaki and her core team were compassionate. They were truly mentors that guided me, gave me enough time to study and to work on my thesis. This was a turning point for me as I really appreciated that the academics as well as the University rose to my difficult times to support me in completing my studies.

My experiences since graduating

I felt very nostalgic as academics like Angela Dimitrakaki who are highly intellectual, compassionate, and game-changers in the industry are a rarity in the academic and art field, and her mentoring could shape a student’s approach to learning in a positive, enlightening and intellectual way. For this reason, I applied for a PhD and her support came through. However, since scholarships at the University are competitive for foreign students, I could not secure a scholarship which discouraged me to stay at the University even though I had gained admission to the PhD programme.

Since my graduation, I have continued to work as a lawyer for artists’ and art workers working conditions and regulations for art world transparency, but also at legal think tanks. I eventually found a home for my PhD at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, and I am also currently working as an ocean law and policy analyst at an organisation that focuses on ocean protection and conservation from the lens of art. I have had a varied career, even though I primarily identify as a lawyer, I also explore other possibilities through a variety of career opportunities in teaching, artistic practices, and curating.

Angela Dimitrakaki’s program really opened up my legal practice and the trajectory to think with art from a political, socially engaged and participatory way that has paved the way for me to work with art organisations, and through my PhD to continue to map an interdisciplinary research with law and art at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

I don’t wish to have any defining point in my life as an achievement – I consider all ups, downs and stagnations to be a part of life if you are open to experiences in the right ecosystem and mentoring that helps you to grow as an individual to be able to contribute to others.

My advice to new and current students

The cliched advice is to be open to experiences, take care of your mental and health and well-being, and try to understand the depth of the subject to imbibe it in your artistic/career practice when beginning university.

When graduating, it is not always going to go the way you had planned so be open to new challenges and always seek out mentors who can support you in your career. Continue to build strong relations with people you met so you can network and learn new ideas – human relations go a long way in your career.