Students

After studying Art History for a year at Goldsmiths College in 2006 Sarah then undertook a Foundation course at Camberwell College of Art, in order to re-enter Goldsmiths on the BA Art Practice course, of which she is about to go into her third year.

In 2008 using money from her student loan Sarah initiated Q-Art London: a forum for visual art and culture students and graduates, attracting around 2000 members from across London's major art universities. In order to raise money to run the forum, Sarah has published the book '12 Gallerists: 20 Questions'. Through sales in the Tate Modern bookshop as well as the ICA, Artwords and through the Q-Art website, 250 copies of the book have so far been sold. Additional funding and sponsorship from LCACE and Openvizor was also secured, in order to produce Q-Arts first inaugural exhibition back in July 2009 and to maintain the forum's continuation into 2010.

www.q-artlondon.com
Q-Art presents, Opportunities for review: Degrees unedited
Sarah's choice blogs

You seem to have been very busy setting yourself up for post-graduation. Tell us a little more about Q-Art, how do you see such activities progressing after graduating next year?
Through Q-Art we have been holding monthly crits / convenors where people are invited to present their work for discussion amongst an audience of contemporaries and peers. The forum is deliberately non-hierarchical (in response to the current system where getting on in the art world seems to always be about 'who you know') and the emphasis is on peer review. Everyone can attend and selection to present is made on a strict first-come first-served basis. Another aim of the forum as well as breaking down barriers set up by the institution between different courses, levels of study and colleges, is also to provide a space where graduates can come to critically discuss their work in a familiar, critical peer-led environment - away from market concerns. I was aware of the absence and the difficulties people face once graduating so decided to do something about it. I want to carry on running the forum after I graduate next year.

Do you plan on staying in London after you have graduated in 2010? Why do you think it is important for you to stay or leave?
The place to be for me, without a doubt is London. First of all I chose to study at Goldsmiths, as it is at the very hub of one of the cities that is a global centre for contemporary art. I would definitely need to stay in London to pursue a career in the arts, and maintain the network that produced Q-Art as an active forum.

You seem to have taken the concept of Q-Art and gone full steam ahead, making to most of the networks in London. Where did the idea for Q-Art come from, is it convergent with what you thought you would be doing during and after a practice based degree?
Before coming to university I did not know I wanted to do this: I had a rough idea that I wanted to be a part time journalist as well as artist. It was not long before I realised the difficulties of becoming a full time artist, who makes the work they want and makes a living from it. Witnessing the scenarios of networking, private views and 'who you know' made me uncomfortable: it seemed to be the best net-workers, not always the best artists, who would succeed. Hence I set up Q-Art London as an all-inclusive, peer review forum.

On leaving college I want to carry on with the forum as I am doing now, and after a few years take the format to Berlin or New York as well: hopefully I can get the sponsorship and funding to do this.

Where is the oddest place where you find your inspiration to do all of this?
I suppose one of the biggest influences I had (as corny as it might sound) was reading Richard Branson's 'Screw It Let's Do It' book. It really inspires you to get off of your backside and really go for ideas, without letting worries of what might go wrong prevent you from even trying.

So you seem to have reaped the rewards from these wise words, however 'corny' they may seem. Tell us about what you have found so rewarding about it all?
The most rewarding thing has just been going for it! So much has happened in one year. An idea on a piece of paper turned into a forum that is growing in success and a book. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. With the book for example, I did not have time, money or resources to go to an outside publisher and distributor.  Instead I found a printer and self-published. I asked my tutor to write the forward and printed a few copies 'on demand'. I advertised the book at events and universities and have distributed it myself to larger outlets. Selling some copies allowed me to get the money back to buy more and then pump into the forum. Learning to think outside of the conventional route for doing things has helped no end.

Also throughout the year we ran gallery trips around London so that those who were part of Q-Art London could get to meet others and chat about art on a more informal basis. This got noticed and University of the Arts asked us to run a 'Q-Art Gallery Tour' As part of their University of the Arts Alumni reunion weekend.

What is the worse job or indeed jobs you have done during your studies so far?
During my year of art history and then my foundation, I worked a total of eight internships in art fairs and public and private galleries - all without pay: none of which were particularly inspiring as I was almost always bored.

But you seem to be good at turning things around, as you made the decision to restart your BA in a practice based subject. What did you take from these boredom-ridden jobs that you have put into good use?
As everyone probably knows it is really difficult to get a paid job in the arts doing what you love - one of the reasons I decided to try and work for myself, towards my own goals. During the work experience I learnt a lot about how different organisations were structured - an awareness of this helped with setting up Q-Art London and also provided inspiration for '12 Gallerists: 20 Questions'.

As you enter your final year, what advice and support do you feel has been missing during previous years of study?
In my first year when I produced and eventually published the book for Q-Art, there was no shared or taught knowledge about the gallery system, how the art market worked and how to get funding: things you'd need to know almost immediately once coming out of art school.

You seem to have made a pretty good go at things anyway. Would you say such knowledge is best self learned, other than specifically taught?
I'm not so sure I see such a lack in professional advice as a problem. I'd say it's important to read and research the market whilst studying. It is valuable to have a general understanding when you come out of art school, tailored to your own specificity.

But there is a danger that too much knowledge of the market can affect the time one spends on developing their practice and even the kind of work they make. Our old head of art at Goldsmiths was concerned that students worrying about their future are not allowing themselves the only time and freedom (which art school is supposed to give) to 'find' their practice. He may have a point.

Is there then, any advice and support you feel you are gaining whilst studying at Goldsmiths, anything that you would pass on to others completing their arts based degrees now?
Read, re-read and research. Try and know as much as possible about the particular area you are working in - both academically and in the 'real world'. Work hard and have fun with what you're doing.

Look out for other Professional profiles upcoming on Student communities: they are intended as informative yet short pieces of content for you to make use of and gain inspiration from so let me know if they are working.
richard.taylor@a-n.co.uk »

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2008 graduate Alice Ladenburg, the artist who keeps her desk tidy for commercial affect, tells us of her career achievements to date. Read on »

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Richard Taylor

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 August 2009