I had the idea for the new collective when I first moved to Bristol. After finishing University in 2009 I worked for a year as an Office Assistant for Fabrica Gallery, in Brighton. During that time, I found it a struggle to work full time and also continue to be motivated to make art without the safety and support of a University setting. 



Thinking about the differences between being an artist in the ‘real world’ compared to at University there were a number of things I realised were missing. These are the things I believe are fundamental for a newly emerging artist to successfully continue with their practice:​

 

• Firstly, Space. Not the living room floor but a designated space, where you can lay out all the mess, pin your thoughts to the walls and leave it there. A place where you’re constantly inspired to make work.​

• Secondly, other Artists, people to give constructive feedback, to bounce off of and who can relate to having ‘artists block’ and encourage you to carry on. Having a group of people around you who can think creatively can be the difference between giving up and pushing through to produce something incredible.​

• And finally, some sort of pathway, (however, wobbly!) Knowing about different organisations that can help to support you, how to apply for commissions and residencies, understanding how arts organisations are run, how to describe your work in a professional way, setting yourself goals and deadlines and making industry contacts. These things are the difference between making your work in private and getting your name out there and possibly some of these you are not taught about through Education.​

 

the new collective hopes to provide all of these things, in some form or another, as a way of bridging that difficult gap between education and ‘real world’ art making with a residency and exhibition opportunity.

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