ARTISTS TALKING

# 2 [7 March 2010]

I've found networking in new territories is filled with challenges and rewards, chances to clarify intentions, clear the decks (and dusty corners) and find the open doors....

That said, there are some serious boarder controls, even when you've a lot to offer, qualifications and experience spilling off your C.V... its the same all over but cut away from regular contacts and clients it a whole new ball game and I've been attempting to learn very quickly about networking and more importantly refining an effective strategy to get me from A-B quicker. ...

In the first month and a half I've applied for four Creative Partnership posts, one residency, two 'administration/manager' roles, one lead artist commission...

I have had three interviews and succeeded in getting one post.  The best one in my view. The experience has been really illuminating. The job I got was the one application that I spent the least time agonising over, and had a very strong connection to my ideas for the application....the answer to future work is right there...

 ...for another interview I was asked to bring ideas for an 'event' which were I in the post I might set up and deliver... I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable about this, my sense was that there was no way I was getting the post but they would like my ideas (thank you very much) ....I couldn't tell them to stuff it, so I shared my ideas, they scribbled them down and thanked me for my time, I knew that it was over.  I felt cheated a) by actually applying for a seriously poorly paid job and b) that this is a perfectly legitimate way of getting free ideas consultation...

I knew I hadn't got the lamentably badly paid job, I was relived ...completely relived and set about digesting why I had applied for it in the first place ...fear and to plug into networks are not reason enough... despite being amply qualified on all but one of the stipulations  ... 

And so I'm returning to what i know best, creating and workshops ...

# 1 [7 February 2010]

My logic led me to make an application for part time work in an arts organisation ... get paid for doing what I know about, offer what I could in time and skills, support the aims etc etc ... and have enough time aside from it to nurture my practice and freelance work.

It wasn't such a hot experience. Interviews are pretty nerve wracking at the best of times...

This experience has made me understand and re-affirm there has to be another way ...

It's a blessing in no disguise.