Written by Amy Hall.
If you live on the Isle of Wight, by now you may have come across or even befriended members of the Creative Island team. If you’ve not had to chance to meet the wonderful little team of passionate people that bring Creative Island to life, then get to know them in this new meet the team series.
Get to know the people behind the projects. Here’s Sam Cattee.
Who are you and what do you do at Creative Island?
Hello! I’m Sam and I’m the Communications Manager for Creative Island and CAN YOU HEAR US? I handle our social media platforms (with help from Amy!) the bi-monthly newsletters, the communications internally and externally as well as the PR. Right now, my focus is on the Island’s 6-week celebration of creativity and culture. I want to better tell the story of the Isle of Wight to itself and the wider world.
What makes the Island so great for you?
There’s so much hidden mystery, mischief and beauty on this Island that it feels hard to choose just one spot. Right now, it’s the grassy fields that overlook Blackgang Viewpoint near the Pepperpot. She’s a little dry right now, but you can watch the sunset while soaking in the view of South-Wight, and my head will go quiet. My absolute favourite spot is my back garden. Which we’ve let go totally natural with wildflowers, we have birds, bees, spiders, foxes and a badger as frequent visitors!
What makes the Island so great for you?
I like the optimism here. I like the no-hesitation “yes” kind of community here. As an overner, I love living in a place where people say “yeah, I can do that for you, no problem” because I feel like it’s encouraged me to be better too. I truly love living here because a stranger will hold a hand out should you need it.
If you could change one thing about the Island, what would it be?
That pesky perception that the Isle of Wight is stuck in the past, boring, and set in outdated tradition. I won’t argue that it’s a slower pace of life. It’s one of the reasons my partner and I stayed here. I can close my laptop and be surrounded by natural beauty in less than 10 minutes, with only nature as my company. For me, and many others, the Island is filled with creative aspiration and ambition. There are changemakers here, making the Island a better place to live and visit and I think more people should know about it, and help me shout about it!
When you’re not at your day job, what can we find you doing?
I’m like a little pinball, so if you can find me, well done! I’m either gardening at home with the help of our little black cat, sea swimming, at Guilty Pleasures Tattoo Studio, cruisin’ the world, getting an iced-vanilla latte at Carvel Lane, walking the Wight, or playing video games with my partner on our not-so-comfortable couch.
What does Creative Island mean to you?
‘Creative Island’ is just the beginning for me. An idea that blossomed from a marketing campaign idea, and now just who we are and what we call ourselves. I want the Isle of Wight to be known as a Creative Island, the small but remarkable Island that turned its challenges into opportunities, and became a place that people moved to and visited because it’s a place that serves communities, improves well-being and quality of life, and supported its economy by welcoming creativity in all its forms.
Check back to hear from the rest of the team.
