Artsmatrix Blog

"This body of work has been inspired by the images that we see every day on our television news bulletins.  Images of war and destruction in  Beirut and other places in the World where there is conflict.  These images are shocking  but as we see them all the time we almost become used to them and they lose some of their horror.I wanted to create work that captured this horror.  The pieces I have created are from images that are stored in my head and so are of no particular place, but are a collection of ideas and thoughts. They are made from porcelain and the firing process itself is part of the destruction as they are multi-fired to high temperatures so the already fragile structures are pushed to their limits" www.mjmceramics.co.uk

Artsmatrix loves receiving the Creative Choices e newsletter. A great interveiw with Vanessa Swann is CEO of Cockpit Arts. Below is the teams five top tips for business success

1. Focus on your product range and your potential customers.
You need to be clear about what business you are really in, what you are selling and who to. Focus on what you are really passionate about and what creates the most value. Don’t try to do everything!

2. Do your market research.
Who are you competitors and what is happening in your market? Analysing how your competitors work will help you define your USP (unique selling proposition) and what makes you special so you can communicate this to your customers.

3. Set goals.
Create an outline business plan with a clear vision, values and set of goals for the coming year. Goal setting provides you with focus, direction and the motivation to achieve success, whatever this may look like to you.

4. Network.
Think about what support  you need and who in your existing network of family and friends could help. Joining a studio can provide a vibrant network of advisers, collaborators and peers, all of whom can support you to achieve your goals.

5. Be clear about how you will finance your business and studio.
Create a budget setting out all of your costs. Consider loan finance as well as grants to support your business growth. Incubation fees can be as low as £3,500 a year and the impact on your turnover and profit can be significant. Can you afford not to invest in your business?

To read more from this article written by Jacqui McIntosh please go to www.creativechoices.co.uk

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Artsmatrix Member Abigail Brown showing at the V&A in London

'Fit for Purpose: a practical and conceptual exploration of silver' an exhibition by the Contemporary British Silversmiths
at Victoria & Albert Museum, Whiteley Galleries, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL

30th March - 16th September 2012

http://www.contemporarybritishsilversmiths.org/

Image credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=739

I had a fabulous time meeting an energetic and diverse bunch of creatives from across the South West at the a-n airtime event at Spacex in Exeter last Wednesday (thanks Ed for inviting us).  Thank you to all who attended and asked such interesting questions about your practice and how best to continue to grow a living from it while developing your continuing proefessional development (CPD). 

The roundtable sessions had us all on the merry go round and meant we got to meet around 50 artist in two hours (no break though :)  Many of you told us you haven't heard enough about Artsmatrix and the opportunities we offer so I'm taking that feedback into a new plan to reach the parts we haven't reached yet.

If you are, or can get together, a group of minimum 10 creatives then I would be happy to discuss running an advice session  or  a work shop for you as part of our 'Artsmatrix comes to you' initiative. Please email me at artsmatrix@plymouthart.ac.uk with your ideas,

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Karin

Artsmatrix Development Officer (part-time)