Blog post 10: Artist residencies and funding applications

Professional Practice talk with Miranda Forrester

Miranda gave lists of useful art job websites and Instagram accounts that post opportunities, advice, and connections:

Blog post 9: Visit to Pheonix Art Space

Visited the Pheonix Art Space, to view the exhibition ‘Are You a Woman in Authority?’.  The Pheonix exhibition coordinator gave us some information about the exhibition and the individual works in it.  Zanele Muholi, Sarah Maple, Sarah Lucas, and Bobby Baker are just a few of the artists/photographers who were shown in the exhibition.

I learnt how certain artworks are secured and the different requirements and rules on how they are exhibited.  Emailing the artist or reaching out to other galleries to hire artwork or equipment is some of the ways the Pheonix Art Space secures different artists’ work.  I also found it interesting that Zanele Muhole’s image needed to be printed specifically in Switzerland with certain printers.  This made me realise just how many elements need to come together and align to create a successful exhibition.

In terms of professional practice one of my main takeaways from my visit to the Pheonix gallery was learning about the exhibition coordinator and how they were offered the role.  They started as a front-of-house invigilator and also volunteered to work for many different galleries.

Links to volunteer jobs in galleries around Brighton and London:

https://fabricavolunteerblog.home.blog

https://volunteer.communityworks.org.uk/opportunities/rocket-artist-volunteer-4592?o=1

https://www.npg.org.uk/about/jobs/volunteer-with-us

https://www.brightonfringe.org/volunteer/

https://www.vercida.com/uk/features/volunteering-initiatives-at-tate?company=319#:~:text=Volunteers%20are%20involved%20in%20front,limited%20capacity%20to%20involve%20volunteers.

Links to email address to find out more information about volunteering at Tate.

Although Brighton Fringe are currently not looking for volunteers, I have signed up to the mailing list to keep up to date with any new opportunities.

Blog post 7: Lindsey Smith – visiting speaker

Freelance Facilitator 

https://lindseysmith.net

I attended a talk led by Lindsey Smith. Her job title is a ‘freelance facilitator’. We learnt about how she makes a living, and all the different aspects that contribute towards her own personal practice achievements, as well as growth in her creative career.

After she graduated from University, she ran workshops in exchange for studio usage, to make her own work. This led to a paid role at the studio.

Running photography workshops – engaging people in creativity.

She described six different ways to engage yourself and others with creativity and making things – ways in which you can get paid and make a living out of it.

• Artist as catalyst
• Artist as provider of new skills
• Artist as facilitator
• Artist as mentor
• Artist as mediator
• Artist as collaborator 

The point that interested me the most was the Artist as Facilitator. 

Lindsey described it as:

• Enabling to help people to make the work they can’t.
• To look at Art’s Council listings.
• You build relationships with individuals.
• Sometimes this could culminate in a public show.
• The aim is to widen participation.

Looking deeper into how part of my professional career could include working as a Facilitator of art and researching to gain a better understanding of what it actually means:

• https://www.amandamccormack.co.uk/artist–facilitator.html – this a photographer who also works as an Artist Facilitator. It is interesting to look at the different workshops and projects she has led. Not only do you work with individuals who want to make work, you also work together with other artists from different mediums. For example, on one project this photographer worked with a performance company and sound artist. This is a great way to broaden your horizons and make connections within the wider art world. This photographer works mainly with children.
• Looking at the Arts Council listings for funding – this link is for individuals and funds that support your own personal creative practice development, however, it was interesting to look at the requirements and eligibility – https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/dycp
• Photoworks Photography Club – https://photoworks.org.uk/photography-club/

• It is interesting to see the different outcomes of these projects. Lots of them result in some kind of public show, which reiterates and pushes this idea of widening participation in the art world.
• Photoworks Photography Club –“Photography Club is an exciting offer from Photoworks for 13 – 16 year olds in Brighton.Young people meet on a regular basis to take part in workshops with a photographic artist. These sessions enable participants to develop their camera skills and produce work for an exhibition. Getting out and about is an important part of Photography Club. The programme includes exhibition visits to local galleries and research trips to cultural organisations”.
• ‘Why Are We Leaving?’ the title of Brightons Photo Biennal 2018 exhibition. The Photoworks Photography Club encouraged young people to make photography in response to the theme ‘ A New Europe’ –  https://photoworks.org.uk/watch-the-making-of-brighton-photo-biennial-2018-exhibition-why-are-we-leaving-with-lynn-weddle/
• ‘A New Europe’ – “Examining the current state of flux as the United Kingdom redefines its role in Europe, the eighth Brighton Photo Biennial draws on one of the most important geopolitical events of our time. The UK’s status within the EU may be changing, but geographically we will remain part of Europe – with a shared history and intertwined future”.
• What I find most interesting about this particular project is how you can engage young people with current political and social situations – encouraging creative responses and outcomes, working within the community and investing in facilitating cultural life for all people. Enabling people to freely engage in the arts.

Blog post 6: Ola Teper – visiting speaker

Photographer

Ola Teper is a photographic artist who studied their Photography BA(Hons) at the University of Brighton, before moving on to study for their MA Photography, also at UoB.

Ola Teper website link – https://www.olateper.com

It was interesting to see their work from the end of their BA, through to the MA, and where it stands now, at the beginning of the PhD they have been accepted on. Ola spoke about how they became a practitioner of photography, and that was realised specifically through doing the MA. Ola reiterated the importance of community within the course and how taking advantage of feedback from your peers is extremely beneficial when working through your MA and developing your practice further.

They also described how community can be born through practice and collaboration, especially through sharing resources and workspaces. Having communication with fellow students helps to contextualise your work and push you further forward into your practice. This in turn will stand you in good stead for the future, where community and feedback may not be as accessible.

Listening to Ola speak about her decision to follow on to the MA course prompted me to do some research on the UoB MA course, and postgraduate study in general – https://www.brighton.ac.uk/courses/study/photography-ma.aspx

Blog post 5: Selling prints and getting paid

Research and thoughts on pricing my work:

When I think about selling my work, my first thought is that I would be scared I am putting the price too high and that the print itself is not worth that amount. However, it is important to bear in mind that the price is also including all the work, research, decisions, and time that has led you to this one or more final print.

Miranda Forrester, the Uob graduate and painter/artist, also advised to take into consideration all the work that went into the final piece, when pricing your work.

In order to gain a clearer understanding of how to price work, I have looked at different sites that have information on pricing and selling artwork.

Attending art fairs is a great way to see the real-life market.

https://www.theotherartfair.com/london/ – The 7th to the 10th of March at the Truman Brewery is the next art fair based in London.

https://www.saatchiart.com/photography -“With 160,228 limited edition and open edition prints to choose from, Saatchi Art offers high-quality photography perfectly suited for your space”. This site showcases photographic prints that range in price from £500 to £5,000. On this website, you can filter the search option to work that is priced under £500. I am able to further refine my research by choosing the size, medium, and material.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-o2q_UHRIh/ : Francesca Genovese informs us – you can always go up in price as your career progresses.

Having a two-tier system for the prices of your work, decide on two sizes and price accordingly.

Blog post 2: Graduates in Creative Practice Talk

I attended a creative practice talk at Grand Parade. Two artists, Rosie Penny and Miranda Forrester spoke about how they started their careers after graduating from their courses at Uob. They gave lots of inside advice on working in the professional art world.

Rosie Penny was the first graduate to speak about her creative practice.

• Studied illustration.
• A writer, but also still works very visually. For example Art on a Postcard https://artonapostcard.com
• “Research can be a practice in itself”.
• She highlighted how applying for ‘open calls’ is a great way to meet people and get your work seen.

The second artist was Miranda Forrester.

• Studied on the painting course.
• She is now an artist/painter.
• Had a solo show last year with the work she made at an artist residency.
• Made a textile design for Brighton Soho house and a mural for Meta offices.
• One of her key points of advice was to learn how to photograph your work well to use it for your website.
• She advised to look at a favourite artist CV, what residences or what galleries they have worked with, and take notes from it.
• Similarly to Rosie Penny, she advised that applying for ‘open calls’ is the best way to get your work seen, especially when initially graduating from University.

Both artists have been very successful since graduating and the main point that they reiterated is important to do is apply for ‘open calls’.

Research on Open Calls

Photography specific, a wide range of current opportunities – some of which do not have a deadline:

https://www.londonphotography.org.uk/opportunities/

A link with a number of different calls, from around the world. When clicking ‘submit’ you are also asked to ‘say something about your work’, so it is important to have a succinct artist statement:

https://www.loosenart.com/pages/calls\

A link to a specific open call with PHMuseum, however this one has an entry fee:

https://phmuseum.com/awards/belfast-photo-festival-2024

For female and non-binary photographers only, they state you have the opportunity to sell prints at the museum as well, indicating that being a part of these exhibitions is great coverage for your work:

https://www.fotofemmeunited.com/article/580-photography-the-universal-language/

Including both artists and photographers, the call states the production budget and also awards a commission fee of 500 pounds to help develop work further:

https://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/whats-on/open-call-create-exhibition-activity

Researching the many open calls that are available for me to apply to has encouraged me to start thinking about the kind of work that I could enter and how this could be beneficial to increasing my works’ visibility within the art world.

Blog post 1: beepurple

Guest speaker from the university entrepreneurship support service ‘beepurple’ – to help with a business or social enterprise, start-up idea or freelance plan.

https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/gain-experience/start-your-own-business/what-support-can-i-get/index.aspx

After I graduate from my course I may decide to start some kind of business that is related to my practice. This business would help towards making a living and paying towards my personal practice.

I can access the support as a student but also after I have graduated. Practical workshops, one to one supports that can help with discussing ideas, grant funding and opportunities to access funding.

I decided to research the different services and workshops beepurple offer.

• Startup course in the summer – learn skills intensely in 5 days, to learn how to work self employed – research this and plan on doing on, apply for it https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/careers/2022/05/18/free-business-startup-course-for-students-and-graduates-worth-2500/ “During this insightful and interactive course, you will learn about ideation and ideas validation, communicating your ideas, finding your customers, marketing, selling online, managing your finances and keeping it legal”. I have booked a place on this course, as it states, even if you do not necessarily have a solid idea for a business, but are thinking about working self employed, this course is beneficial.
• https://www.strategyzer.com/library?type=Tools – Link for The Business Model Canvas (BMC) – to help get all and any ideas you have in your head onto paper.

I have signed up to the newsletter for this service.

“The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool. It allows you to describe, design, challenge, invent, and pivot your business model”.

• This can work for start-ups and existing business.

Although at this moment in time I do not have any ideas for my own business, I would like to have some more information on being self employed. I have created an account with beepurple so I am able to book a one to one appointment and take full advantage of their services after I finish my course in May.

We were shown an example of an artist who has taken advantage of beepurple’s services to start their own business.

• https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kellyangood/kickstarter-gold-videre-35mm-diy-pinhole-camera-ki – Kelly Angood raising over 75,000 pounds through kickstarters funding.

Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/?country=GB is an online platform that helps to bring a creative project to life. People who are interested fund and support your creative project, in return for unique creative packages that are part of their project.

Advice was given on beginning to work as a freelancer.

• Start building up a portfolio of your best work now whilst you are a student.
•   Create a 60-second reel of your best work.
•   Update your CV.
•   Write a list of potential clients, and reach out to them via LinkedIn, email, social media or phone.
•   Think about your pricing strategy. How much will you charge your clients?
  A link to help with this: https://bectu.org.uk/get-involved-in-the-union/ratecards/

I feel this is something I can easily do whilst I am still studying and will stand me in good stead for after I graduate – keeping on top of my work and thinking about how I present myself to others.