No Artist is an Island

Whether you are an artist, performer, musician or writer it is often a struggle to nurture and establish a sustainable career in your chosen art form. Over the last 5 years I have worked with a range of individuals who are seeking to make a living from their work. Like many ventures this is not always easy and more and more I am convinced that it is about delegation and investment rather than going it alone.

Of course there are examples of individuals who have hit the big time and often this is put down to timing, the environment and pure luck...the right place at the right time. Although, I am not really a believer in luck. I tend to think that by focusing on a clear direction and putting steps in place, it can lead you to your own luck.

In a recent article in Cut Common Magazine, James Morrison wrote of the challenges of having and maintaining a career as a musician. In response to the question...Do you feel musicians are very business minded?, he responded with...

Being fed

There is much discussion about the meagre incomes that we earn in the arts sector. Whether you are a musician, performer or manager, it is often difficult to scrape together a decent annual income. A couple of years ago I was speaking with a friend and mentor about this and conveying my frustration at just how challenging it was. Not just the money, but managing how I think as someone who stands with a foot in each camp; the creative maker and the manager/producer.

Dale Williams, a painter

In response she calming stated...‘Well I guess it is challenging when you decide to live a creative life.’

In that moment my mind exploded with the realization that that is exactly what I was doing…choosing to live a creative life. You might be reading this and smacking your forehead with a doh! But so often when we are in the thick of projects, management, media and people, it is difficult to have the space and luxury to enjoy and acknowledge what is going on and how amazing it truly is. The forest for the trees scenario.

In a world that often diminishes the importance of creative thought and expression, it can be difficult to stay steadfast in your resolve to…Just do it! It’s what you do. Now can we just get on with it ….

Understanding the Unsexy

It was great to be able to talk about the arts with Louise Saunders and Leo Schofield. It's always a topical and interesting subject. Read some of what was said here

A great start to 2014

So, it’s 2014. Phew! What a relief.

2013 brought many challenges and to be honest I was quite relieved to read that last page and close the book.

2014 has began and it’s looking like a rippa.

I have started as Communications Manager (2 days per week) with the Tasmanian Writers Centre and what a wonderful team I have joined. Marion (pictured with me), Chris, Sarah and the Board. I am really looking forward to learning more about Tasmanian Writers and working to raise the profile of writing in and outside of the state. Drop by and see us at the centre Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm. www.tasmanianwriters.org

This year I have the absolute pleasure to be working with a fantastic group of artists on Flinders Island. These are visual artists, musicians and a film maker. We have invited Jane Stewart from TMAG on board as the curator of what will be an eclectic and intriguing group exhibition to be hosted at Strait Works in Whitemark, Flinders Island. You are all invited of course. http://www.flindersislandregionalarts.org/strait-works-gallery-whitemark.html

An eclectic life...just the way I like it!

It seems that I haven't been home much lately. Most weeks I am working in the north of the state working with students from the Tasmanian Polytechnic or more recently, showing 3 designs as part of Interweave Arts Streets Alive Remade Fashion Show. This latest experience reinforced my commitment to supporting and promoting others, rather than being in the spotlight myself. The catwalk experience was terrifying.

I have driven the Midland Highway thousands of times over the last 27 years , so it is a familiar path; past the stumps that look like faces, the trees that look like lollipops and the bits of road that are nostalgic for one reason or another.

The turn off to the East Coast always reminds me of summer holidays when mum would pack us four kids and the dog in the Kingswood (an ex police car) and we would drive for hours before reaching Scamander. Falling out of the car in the dark we could smell the salty air and hear the crashing waves of the nearby Beaumaris Beach.

Do the arts matter in a federal election?

Jami Bladel from Kickstart Arts, Robert Jarman from Blue Cow and yours truly had a bit of a chat about art on ABC Local Radio in Hobart last week. Have a listen and tell me what you think about arts funding in Australia.

The Joy of Failure?

Sometimes it feels like life is a series of complicated situations and failures that we must negotiate. In-between the icky bits we savour those beautiful sweet moments that keep us fueled  I am lucky enough to connect on an almost daily basis with inspiring and interesting individuals who fill me up and remind me of what is important in life.

I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of shit – I try to put the shit in the wastebasket.        -Ernest Hemingway

Over the past few weeks I met some such individuals who own and manage some of the most innovative manufacturing companies in Tasmania. Situated on the North West Coast of Tasmania in Devonport, Penguin, Burnie and the surrounding area, many of them produce and sell to and for local, interstate and international markets. It was fascinating listening to their stories about tenacity, hard work, ideas and people. By the end of the two days there were some common themes running through the conversations. Many of these industrious and clever individuals left school in year 9 or 10 to pursue their dream that often revolved around making, growing or building something. But there is nothing modest about the operations of these producers and manufacturers. In fact, most have businesses with international reach and plans for major growth and redevelopment. Needless to say that the experience of entering their world was fascinating and inspiring.

Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.     - Steve Jobs (1955 – )

The lessons to be learnt from these clever people are many, but the recurring and reassuring themes included:

• surround yourself with positive people
• 'you gottawannadoit' – a catch cry from successful entrepreneur Dale Elphinstone
• you have to keep modifying and improving your product, responding to the market and updating to address competitors.
• Take the word 'can't' out of your vocabulary
• Be focused on what you want to do and be passionate and finally the biggie...
• don't be afraid to fail

WHAT? Failure.

Innovative and idealistic thinkers may tell us that failure is vital for our growth and success, and a normal part of life it really is not something embraced in day to day life. Even before we bring our first school reports home in Grade 1 we have learnt the reward of success and the disappointment that surrounds failure. Let's face it, not only are we generally pretty bad at failing, but what is worse is our response to failure. We denigrate others, ourselves, we sulk, question everything and often go into complete avoidance.

Sport is not something I usually watch. In fact the TV was muted when I noticed the young footballer being interviewed. It was his demeanour that first drew my attention. He was being asked about the recent game and the substantial loss his team had suffered. While he was obviously disappointed it was his response that got me thinking more about how we deal with and respond to failure.

'Someone has to lose', he said when asked about the teams performance. He went on to talk about what they could improve on and take from the loss; what do they do next. It got me thinking about sporting teams and how they approach failure. There were qualities in the footballer that I had seen in the North West entrepreneurs. They reflect on their performance, respond, make some changes, pull up there socks and get on with the next idea or task.

Business owners risk everything by investing their own money into ideas and projects. While they may do their environmental scans and risk analysis, ultimately they must be prepared to respond to failure; through economic downturn, change in trends, competition etc. The ability to ride this failure, to get up and have another go, is incredibly inspiring. It is a quality that is needed in the non profit sector, including the arts. There is a confidence amongst these hard working passionate people that is GOLD and I believe we can learn a great deal from them.

I came away from the North West wondering how we could learn from entrepreneurs and successful business people-especially those who fail. How do we get them in front of producers, managers and arts companies who are looking to get off the reliance on government funding? How do we embrace difference in how we all communicate; ask the 'stupid' questions? And how do we invest in our ideas, take a risk and prepare ourselves when failure hits.

Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one’s mistakes.     -Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891