Presbyterian Senior Living’s Post

Here’s a screenshot from the lastest issue of the brilliant Arts and Culture Stockport in which I feature 🙂 Keep your eyes peeled for it over the next few weeks.

The arts are an unstoppable force. Learn more about how we’re strengthening cities through the power of the arts in our Annual Report. https://t.co/ftGwU9cyEC https://t.co/RfddUtmwqM

The arts are an unstoppable force. Learn more about how we’re strengthening cities through the power of the arts in our Annual Report. https://t.co/ftGwU9cyEC https://t.co/RfddUtmwqM

At the suggestion of LinkedIn algorithms I am turning this comment into a post and coming out here about how much i am struggling to survive as an artist. I am on the hunt for a 3 day a week properly paid job - as an account manager / consultant / project manager - so i can actually breathe again - and finish my phd: I am seeking a corporate job (if anyone knows of one here please get in touch!). I'm poorer now than I was at 23. The university system used to offer support to artists as lecturers but that is also now a rare thing - most of us are runnning from uni to uni, teaching bits here and there, with no pay over the holidays. I literally don't see any way it is going to improve. Especially for artists (like me) who rarely sell object based works it feels increasingly impossible to scrape together even the basic living. My tax returns are utterly depressing. The paperwork you have to do for each tiny job is yet more unpaid labour. After 22 years of making and curating and teaching art you'd think I may have cracked it by now - but no. And then there are feelings of shame / failure alongside the stress of not knowing how to get through the month. There needs to be much much more transparency on what artists are being paid for things. Sharing events/exhibitions/workshops on Instagram (or here) looks like success. But if there were a fee included as part of that post's info we would see a different story. I did have one well paid gig last week. But everything else is piecemeal. It's utterly depresssing for the arts in this country and for all who benefit and enjoy it. Any leads on any jobs please get in touch! Based in London or Felixstowe/Suffolk or remote.

Long Post Warning (BUT, I hope you'll read it!): I come from a long line of artists on both sides of my family. I remember having long debates in college about what makes a person an artist and what counts as art. It is far more than an oil painting hanging in a fancy art museum. I found this definition while pondering it this morning: An artist is anyone capable of conceptualizing an emotion, idea, or moment, or of more value, someone who can express themselves using their imagination. This definition begins to capture the concept but it still goes much deeper. For me it's a need to create, a way to express what is inside me in new and creative ways, and how I care for my mental health. Visual art comes in many forms, but there is so much more out there to appreciate and lose-and find-yourself in. Dance, music, theater, writing, designing and so much more. THIS is what I love about what we do at Arts Fort Worth. When artists have a sense of community, magic happens. Creativity breeds creativity. Inspiration ignites souls. Boundaries disappear and connections are made. We become better people. Artists of ALL kinds need connections to each other and to resources that help them remove obstacles and thrive. With a thriving and supported arts community we all benefit. Our economy flourishes (more on that another day!), we begin to open our eyes and hearts to new ideas, and we might even understand each other a little better. When you give to Arts Fort Worth financially, you promote, nurture, and support the arts in Fort Worth. Your gift can provide an artist an opportunity to exhibit their work, a playwright a chance to have their work produced, a small arts organization the chance to deliver more programs, a musician a path to performance, an actor an opportunity to express themselves on stage, and all of them a chance to connect to resources that can move them along their path. I hope all of this communicates how and why this has my heart. As the year comes to a close, please consider a gift of ANY size in support of this important work. My goal is to DOUBLE the number of supporters giving to Arts Fort Worth. If you are an artist, or love one (including me!), please consider a year-end gift. https://lnkd.in/gQJ4b6kX

When students are provided with an environment where they can confidently share their thoughts and emotions, their true potential becomes evident, and they can truly stand out. At R-MA, we recognize the significance of art in fostering personal development and self-discovery. That's why we provide a range of performing and fine arts classes for our students to delve into. 🎵🎨 Discover more about performing and visual arts at R-MA: https://hubs.li/Q023r_by0

How To Pursue A Career In The Arts: 3 Creative Avenues You Can Explore Today

Exposure to art, culture, nature and heritage broadens children's horizons and encourages them to think outside of their immediate circumstances, but the number of students given the opportunity to pursue these interests to GCSE and A-level is dropping significantly year-on-year. Since 2010, participation in arts subjects at GCSE level has dropped by 47%. There are challenges for schools facilitating meaningful access, especially through trips and visitors into school (including financial, time constraints, low staffing levels). On a personal note, I would love to see schools risk assessing for school trips / visitors into school not just by looking at the potential risks of doing *a thing*, but at the potential (though often less immediate) risks of NOT doing it.

The arts are an unstoppable force. Learn more about how we’re strengthening cities through the power of the arts in our Annual Report. https://t.co/ftGwU9cyEC https://t.co/RfddUtmwqM

The arts are an unstoppable force. Learn more about how we’re strengthening cities through the power of the arts in our Annual Report. https://t.co/ftGwU9cyEC https://t.co/RfddUtmwqM