Students

Three years after graduating from Glasgow School of Art photographer Elizabeth Wewiora steps in to her career path so far and takes us along for the ride.

Richard Taylor: What have you done since graduating?

Elizabeth Wewiora: After having a few months of panicking and coming to terms with the fact that I was no longer in the safety of 'University life', I found myself working on a variety of projects and slowly but surely finding my place within the arts scene. Work experience has ranged from an education and outreach internship at CCA in Glasgow, working as a art teacher's assistant at schools, delivering arts education workshops as a freelancer, taking part in exhibitions and residencies and most recently taking up the role of programme coordinator at Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester.

RT: Do you sill think of your career development in terms of an academic year?

EW: In terms of career development I guess I do track my progress on a yearly basis, like that of an academic year. I think since as far back as primary school education it has been ingrained in our brains to assess our development year by year and in some regards term by term. It is just that after graduation academic year changes to working year or even, quite depressingly, tax year! And instead of term by term assessment we track our developments project by project - whether it is a failure or an achievement.'

RT: What is your view on art education today, is it a placing for artists to make mistakes and learn from them through self-criticality, art history / theory awareness and tutorial discussion - or should there be an actual discourse around the practicing of a 'skill'?

EW: To be honest I think arts education today is what you make of it. For me it should be a place to experiment, be brave and learn from your mistakes, both through self-critique and critical debate from your peers and tutors (I only wish I had been braver). I also believe that art history, theory and critical discourse about the arts are essential if you are to understand your own practice in its true context. Discourse around the practicing of a 'skill' is something that will naturally be raised through critical discussion of yours and others practice regardless.

RT: Have you stayed in the same city where you studied - what was your decision in moving or staying put?

EW: I stayed on in Glasgow for two years after graduating and even when I got a job in a new city I was reluctant to say goodbye completely and probably never will be because the city, its people and the arts scene is so exciting there. I am however now based in Manchester, my home city, and the decision to move was simple - because of work. The perfect job opportunity came up for me at a fantastic arts organisation, Chinese Arts Centre. The position of programme coordinator meant that I would be working with international artists on an exciting residency programme, developing arts education projects and assisting a curator with exhibitions - which for me seemed like the perfect job. I miss Glasgow but not as much as I am excited about Chinese Arts Centre and my role there.

RT: What did you perceive you might do after college?

EW: To be honest I did not really have a clue. I was determined that I was going to take a year out and then do a masters because it seemed like the normal thing to do and what everyone else was planning. Going back in to education would have allowed me another year or two to decide what I actually really wanted to do! And I guess I just hoped I would be able to continue my practice in photography and make something of myself.

RT: Is this divergent or convergent with what you are doing now?

EW: Well I still want to do a Masters but only when I really feel ready to do one, not just because I feel I ought to. I never in a million years thought that I would be working at an arts organisation in Manchester running a residency programme but now I can't imagine myself anywhere else. And I am still able to practice as an artist and develop my photography work so in many respects where I am now is a complete mix of divergent and convergent lines with my original perception of life after art school.

RT: What is the worse job you have done since leaving full time study?

EW: Everyone needs to make money to pay the bills and so I agreed to take on the occasional commercial photography work. Some jobs were better than others but the one wedding shoot I did will certainly be the first and last I am ever prepared to do - it is just not for me.

RT: What is the best thing that you took from this?

EW: The best thing I took from this was that it confirmed the type of image making I am inspired by and how I perceive my photography practice.

RT: When you were studying, what advice and encouragement was missing, and can you provide this information in hindsight?

EW: I guess what was missing, although this only becomes apparent in hindsight, is the truth about your options as an artist after graduation. The arts sector is so varied in terms of job opportunities and pursuing your practice but I was none the wiser when I first graduated. If truth be told when you leave the comfort of arts education within an institution you then simply have to start all over again on a new path of arts education - the DIY artist education. Four years at art school inspired and confirmed by passion for working in the arts but it was the six months of intense volunteering and work experience in art galleries which taught me about actually working in the arts sector, and it gave me the tools to develop a true career path.

RT: What other information or advice can you provide that is relevant to your profession that you would pass on to others completing their arts based degrees now?

EW: I have friends who have graduated from the same course as me now working in film, graphic design, teaching, gallery education, completing a PHD in the arts market, working in commercial photography, curating and full time practicing artists showing work in acclaimed exhibitions nationally and internationally.

The point I am trying to make is that we all did the same course and graduated at the same time but we have all been able over the past few years to find our own strengths and paths and are now able to pursue them.

RT: If you had only one sentence to provide an encouraging tip for new graduates what would it be?

EW: Try everything otherwise you might never find out where your career lies - it takes longer for some of us than others but you will get there!

Liz Wewiora is an artist based at Islington Mill Artist Studios in Salford and currently works as the Programme Coordinator at Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester. Working mainly in photography, video and with found objects her work is preoccupied with the very visceral and changeable nature of the everyday environment and is intrigued by the individual habits of human nature and how this affects our surroundings. Her projects have recently evolved into working with social inclusion & engaged practice, collaborations and environmental issues. She graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2008 with a Fine Art Photography Degree.

www.elizabethwewiora.com

Richard Taylor, Elizabeth Wewiora

Richard is an artist/writer living in Edinburgh and online editor on behalf of a-n The Artists Information Company, for the Degrees unedited and Students community sites.

www.rich-taylor.co.uk

First published: a-n.co.uk November 2011