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After an inspiring first meeting with the AIR council, a very rich and resourceful, intelligent group I got to thinking about the 21st century artist. Who we are, what we do and why is it important….these are my sketchy first draft thoughts….more to come

Artists are incredible.

What the some people don’t understand about artists is that they are talented, not just at the art bit,. practising artists know that this is not the only thing we have to do: out of necessity one has to do your own marketing, research and development, manage people, projects, understand law and legal frameworks,, create business plans, business development, marketing strategies, organise and manage finance, pr, network endlessly, be adept at negotiation and writing funding applications, leading and managing people, ,audience development, collector development, education, teaching, professional practice, social engagement and politics. Surviving rejection, funding cuts, knockbacks to name but a few things…..

Out of the desire to survive and sustain and to nurture we learn countless skills: we are analytical , thoughtful, empathetic, compassionate, passionate, philosophical, aware of countless issues.

We draw on a range of skills,experiences, cultures. We are endlessly creative. We are endlessly self educating. self critical, self directive We challenge ourselves endlessly, we adapt, we try over and over. That takes courage, it all does,

The creative sector works damn hard at being everything we need to be to survive and you know what, we are pretty talented at all this plus the actual making. We need to be recognised and valued further for our contributions to this world.

for those artists who are more high profile or established artists’ give something back to those who are still climibing the mountain: those of us Campaigning, fighting to make better futures for artists in every way. Use your influence to create change. Dont isolate yourselves. Give back…..be part of something more than yourselves.


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So, January is in full swing, I have had my ear operation, got a job with Matt Roberts (more on that later ) and Core Gallery is motoring ahead.

The xmas period was spent putting the final touches on DIY Educate, finalising our exhibition programme and looking at various funding applications as well as working on 2 curatorial projects within the exhibition programme.

DIY Educate is now launched and looks very exciting! A whole host of a-n bloggers are contributing as well which is fantastic and a-n and Artquest are partnering up with us.

So what is it?
DIY Educate is a contemporary evolving education programme run by and for Artists, Curators and Art Professionals to encourage artistic development.
DIY Educate is providing opportunities to learn, share ideas, network, and knowledge, providing impetus to develop your practice.

Basically that which we all need in this wilderness of an art world, plus the stuff that art schools dont always teach you…..We have 5 strands:

Nuts and Bolts Talks/ Workshops: Professional Practice( the nitty gritty of being an artists- tips and toolkits)

Engine ChatChat art crit: Peer Critique

Curators and Artist Talks:

Individual Artists Tutorials with established artists such as Graham Crowley

Discounts on practical workshops such as painting and photography Discounts on the Core Gallery Open Submission

DIY educate is just £18 per year and allows you access to all of these workshops either for free or at a concessionary rate plus more special offers and events to be announced.

You can read a lot more here

http://coregallery.co.uk/diy-educate/

This week sees my first AIR council meeting and 2011 looks set to be ever so thrilling.


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Jane boyer and Rob Turner’s debate about paint , education and our own battles has been fascinating to read.

www.a-n.co.uk/p/643588/

Post no 32

I guess how I feel is that when I stop feeling a little scared about painting ,when I stop feeling so mystified and excited about it’s transformative elements,the beauty and ever changing alchemic quality.

When I am no longer fascinated by it’s mellifluous qualities and as longer as I strive to continue to challenge myself to capture it in my own way somehow, to express all that I need it to. When I stop feeling thiese things then I suppose I shall be dead,but painting will not.

thanks both for a very interesting debate.


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