Extraordinary Creatives

For this episode, Ceri is joined by the fiercely honest, endlessly generous Erika B Hess, a painter, the artistic director of Chautauqua Visual Arts and host of two brilliant podcasts. She's exhibited nationally and internationally, curates shows and publications and has helped build an entire support system for artists. 

Erika shares her artist journey, including the moment her paintings stopped being something she controlled and became something she listened to. She talks about learning to say no, building a life with intention and the magic that happens when you let go of good to make space for great. If you're juggling a creative life with caregiving, craving more time in your studio, or learning how to say yes to what truly matters, this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Early on, Erika learned to pivot, which enabled her to pursue her passion as an artist.
• It took Erika nearly 20 years to completely trust her work and produce work that is 100% hers.
• Be honest in your work. People respond to authenticity.
• Don´t hesitate to hire help.
• Say yes to rest, schedule your downtime.
• Talk about your work in an accessible way.
• When your career takes off, saying no and getting in the studio more is essential.
• Don´t be a slave to social media. Use it to showcase your work and keep it up to date.

BEST MOMENTS

“That was the turning point… having to be brutally honest with myself.”

“This kind of success is actually a new space to navigate.”

“Say yes to the painting waiting inside you.”

“You can't make room for new, wonderful, beautiful things if you don't let go of the other behind you.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.erikabhess.com

https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/submitwork

https://www.instagram.com/erikabhess

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-Guide-Getting-Lost-Canons-ebook/dp/B002VM7FYO

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Applications are now open for the next Artist Mastermind Circle—a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities.

Apply by 21 July at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle/ and take the next bold step.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way: Unlock Your Artworld Network

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

If you are waiting for the right moment, gallery or person to make your art career click, you could be waiting forever. In this episode, Ceri shares four powerful ways to start earning from your art. Not someday, not once you feel ready, but today….right now.

The strategies Ceri shares are insights that come from the real-world experience of Zawadi, an exceptional artist who had great networking skills and plenty of shows but was still not earning. Then, she joined The Artist Mastermind Circle, the peer support, coaching, forums and masterclasses, shifted everything and enabled Zawadi to take things to the next level and start earning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understand what it really takes to be sales and commission ready. 
• Ceri´s provides a masterclass to give you a full understanding of how commercial galleries, agents and art advisors really work.
• Prepare the groundwork to make it easy for potential buyers to say yes.
• Maximise the advocates you already have. Re-connect with buyers and people you have worked with or for in the past.
• Don´t let fear and the avoidance behaviours that result from that fear continue to hold you back.
• Group coaching is a powerful way to open up, recognise what is holding you back and find the support you need to take the right action, break through and earn.
• Coaching doesn't just give you answers, it shows you how.
• Registration for the next The Artist Mastermind Circle starts on 13th May.

BEST MOMENTS

“If you're stuck in a loop, waiting to feel ready, wondering when your time will come, let this be the sign - your time is now.”

“Join The Artist Mastermind Circle to get real-time feedback, insight and care from myself and artists like you.”

“She wasn’t quite ready to sell, not because her work wasn´t strong, but because her systems were missing.”

“That shift from feeling like an outsider to realising she had something valuable to offer was seismic.”

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Applications are now open for the next Artist Mastermind Circle—a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities.

Apply by 21 July at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle/ and take the next bold step.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way: Unlock Your Artworld Network

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

For this episode, Ceri is joined by British Filipino curator, writer and researcher John Kenneth Paranada. He bridges the worlds of art, science and other disciplines to shape global conversations around sustainability, resilience and regenerative practices. They unpack his journey and explore how art is mobilising change and the role institutions like the Sainsbury Centre can play in shaping climate consciousness.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation about creativity activism and the courage to take a stand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The language of art is powerful, globally understood and moves people on an emotional level.
• Every city or art space has its own brand and language, but in all of them art touches people, inspires and exposes them to new ideas and makes them think differently.
• Art is inspiring experts from different disciplines to work together to solve climate change.
• We all need to take a clear stand to protect the climate, despite the risks. Be respectful and polite but be effective.
• The Sainsbury centre takes an innovative approach and looks at things holistically.
• The materials and mediums used for A World of Water are deliberately varied to attract people with a wide range of interests. Ken shares examples.
• We need to reduce carbon emissions for exhibitions e.g. loaning locally.
• Artists can play a role by using more sustainable and waste materials.

BEST MOMENTS

“The climate-culture conversation needs to be bridged, needs to be unpacked.”

“The power of art is that it gives you an image, it gives you a particular kind of interface for understanding complexity.”

“Art can unpack the kinds of emotions in us that mobilise us to want to make change.”

“Museums will be very important in creating hope for our public to fight climate change.”

“Should we actually continue making sculptures out of bronze?....”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-kenneth-paranada

https://www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Applications are now open for the next Artist Mastermind Circle—a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities.

Apply by 21 July at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle/ and take the next bold step.

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Ceri explains how to recognise when fear is holding you back, particularly fear of what others think or of rejection. If you are constantly telling yourself you are not ready or good enough to take the next step in your creative journey, in all likelihood it is fear that is holding you back. 

Ceri shares some simple strategies any artist can use to recognise, face and overcome their fears. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Most of the artists Ceri works with do not lack talent, motivation, skill or ideas, yet they struggle to make progress. Usually, it is fear that is holding them back.
• Being afraid is normal, it´s human, so there is no need to be ashamed of feeling that way.
• If you are avoiding something you need to do to make progress, name it. Say it out loud. Fear thrives in silence.
• Sharing your fears with other artists, especially in person, is incredibly powerful. It demonstrates to you that others feel the exact same fear you do, yet many have conquered it, which means you can too.
• Stop using unproductive tasks as a way to avoid the things you fear doing. Ceri shares a simple strategy you can implement immediately.
• Action beats perfectionism.
• Surround yourself with other artists and share your fears openly with them. They truly understand how you feel so you can draw on their support and experience to take action and conquer those fears.

BEST MOMENTS

“You´re not lazy, you’re not unmotivated, and you certainly are not lacking talent, but you might be afraid.”

“I’ve been avoiding pitching for a public commission I really want. I tell myself I’m not ready. But really—I’m scared they’ll say no, or worse…yes.”

“Turn that big shadowy monster into something small enough to hold…name the thing you´ve been avoiding.”

“Fear loves to dress up as perfectionism.”

“You don’t need a bigger network; you need a braver one.”

“Being in a group of artists who are generous, smart and real, changes how you see yourself.”

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Ceri speaks with author and former CEO Margaret Heffernan about embracing uncertainty as a creative tool. From her journey through theatre, BBC production, tech leadership, to becoming a bestselling author, she shares how uncertainty isn't something to fear but a space where possibility thrives. Her latest book also explores how artists navigate and flourish in unpredictability and how in uncertainty lies choice, freedom, opportunity, exploration and adventure.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Margaret embodies creative flexibility and has in her career, from theatre to BBC producer to tech CEO to acclaimed author, proved creative thinking transcends industries and can lead to unexpected opportunities.
• Uncertainty contains freedom, choice, and opportunity. If we eliminated it life would turn into a mere to-do list. Artists inherently understand this and demonstrate how to thrive within ambiguity.
• Heffernan tests ideas by asking: "If I ignore it, will it go away?" The ideas that persist (whether for businesses or books) are the ones worth pursuing, her creative instincts can guide important decisions.
• For emerging artists, the intrinsic reward of creating meaningful work often outweighs financial stability and many choose creative uncertainty over predictable comfort because the satisfaction exceeds anything else they could do.
• When faced with rejection or indifference to your ideas, instead of being crushed, consider that you might just need to explain it better. Persistence and refinement are essential creative skills.
• Perfectionism cripples creativity, experimentation and being willing to try different approaches when stuck can help you as an artist. Success often comes through iteration rather than getting it right the first time.
• Storytelling is central to communicating complex ideas effectively, Margaret structures her talks and writing around "tentpole stories" that support her arguments, making abstract concepts accessible and memorable.

BEST MOMENTS

"I'm quite startlingly comfortable with uncertainty. I remember the very last startup I ran, I ended up closing down because I could not find a path to profitability. I just had a real confidence that at some point it would become clear. And at some point it did."

"The hard boiled business person is going to say, look at the mess we're in, and you're saying we need more art? Are you out of your mind? The mess that got us here isn't gonna get us out. We need a very profound mindset shift."

"In uncertainty lies choice. In uncertainty lies freedom. In uncertainty lies opportunity, exploration, adventure. Most people don't wanna know what they're getting for their birthday."

"I use the test: if I ignore the idea, will it go away? The businesses I ended up running were ideas that wouldn't go away and I used pretty much the same test for books."

"For all that I was strongly advised not to write Embracing Uncertainty, regardless of how it does, I would've been very unhappy if I'd wimped out."

"Instead of getting crushed by indifference, I thought, actually I just need to explain it better. That's actually such a brilliantly inspiring take on taking responsibility for how we're communicating our ideas."

"We are not fated to be one thing or another. It's up to us.”

"When I talk to people about eliminating uncertainty, I'm only about halfway through the story when they suddenly realise, wow, this is not what we want. This is not what anyone wants in their life."

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Links:

https://www.mheffernan.com/

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 
To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 
Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Welcome to the 100th episode of Extraordinary Creatives! One hundred thousand listeners, nineteen months and now ranked in the top 1.5% of podcasts and in this episode, Ceri wants to remind you what being an extraordinary creative is all about.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. You keep showing up, even when it’s messy.
2. You sit with the dualities.
3. You know risk, failure, and mistakes are part of the deal.
4. You ask curious questions. You stay open.
5. You feel deeply, and it all goes into the work.

BEST MOMENTS

"You know that consistency doesn’t mean doing it perfectly. It means turning up with curiosity, with vulnerability, and with the willingness to try again, even if yesterday felt like a failure.”

“You make because you have to, not for applause, not for approval but because there is something in you that refuses to be silenced.”

“You’re not trying to make safe work, you’re trying to make true work and there’s nothing more courageous than that.”

“You know that the clues to your best work are usually hidden in your foundations, in the early obsessions, the weird childhood drawings, the thing you couldn’t stop doing when no one was watching.”

“You don’t need to be louder. Or quicker. Or more polished. You just need to keep choosing creativity in a world that’s constantly nudging you to quit. You’re not behind, you’re becoming and we’re lucky to witness it.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 
To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 
Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Ceri interviews Sherry Dobbin, a cultural strategist whose work spans continents and iconic spaces. From starting in theatre to transforming Times Square, Sherry shares how she crafts meaningful cultural experiences that change how we engage with public spaces. She reveals the secrets behind successful public art, innovative funding models and her approach to helping people engage and not feel intimidated by public art.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sherry's journey began in theatre, where she learned to embody multiple perspectives through mask work, establishing her passion for crafting environments where people can explore and connect.
• Successful public art needs three levels of engagement: aesthetic appeal that draws in the casual observer, deeper resonance for those knowledgeable about art and dialogue with important contemporary issues.
• Creating clear frames or visual cues in public spaces helps people understand how to engage with art, allowing them to feel confident rather than confused or intimidated.
• Sherry advocates for meeting people where they are by providing simple instructions about what to do rather than what not to do, giving audiences the confidence to engage with even the most challenging art.
• Developing cultural spaces in commercial developments can work when both parties understand value beyond direct financial transactions, arts organisations bring people, energy and identity to developments.
• Cultural organisations should rethink funding models by considering their total operational needs rather than focusing on rigid categories, opening up to partnerships where both parties maintain integrity while addressing shared interests.
• When developing cultural spaces, look to the youngest creators to understand future trends, focus on how artists create rather than what they create to anticipate evolving needs.
• Embracing ‘healthy naivete’ allows for innovation, asking questions and trying approaches that go against expectations can lead to breakthroughs when done with respect and genuine curiosity.

BEST MOMENTS

"That early understanding of occupying different spaces and identities has shaped her lifelong passion for crafting environments where people can explore, question and connect."

"I was much better at taking really great directors and artists and helping them to push themselves, to think further, or how to support the work, or how to come up with solutions for them."

"Being able to find alternative realities is how we can help to see solutions to problems."

"It's this delicate balance between something being finite enough and clear enough you can focus on it, but it still allows this infinite number of ways in which it can be interpreted."

"A lot of it is about giving instructions about what you want people to do. Don't put up don'ts. Everything can turn into an invitation."

"Don't assume old sponsorship models anymore, people are really looking towards this matchmaking idea."

"Cultural organisations are not the only entities that get free rent in commercial properties. So stop apologising for it and start understanding how you bring something to them."

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Links:

https://sherrydobbin.com/

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 
To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 
Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Have you ever sat staring at your work, wondering why it’s not resonating? In this episode, Ceri talks about why you might be stuck in how you are being seen, or not seen and why this doesn’t mean you are failing. She shares six real-world strategies to help you shift gears and make your creative practice feel energised, intentional, and visible again.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Share the real reason behind your work. Most artists can describe what their work looks like, but that is only surface level. Reveal what drives you to create meaningful connections.
• Stop hiding behind your artist statement. Authenticity matters, you need to sound human to build a connection and when people know what you care about, they will remember you and refer you.
• Speak clearly about your process, most people will first encounter your work online and being able to picture and imagine your process counts.
• Use your titles as an emotional hook. This is often forgotten, but it is a quick win.
• Make your work relevant to the now. Art isn’t separate from the world, so make sure people understand how your work connects with the world today.
• Be specific about what you want. Start with one goal and share it everywhere you are, including your bio and newsletters.

BEST MOMENTS

“Being stuck doesn’t mean you’re failing, it often means you’re ready to evolve.”

“People don’t just connect with aesthetics, they connect with story. With purpose. With the why.”

“Make your artist statement human, not academic.”

“Clarity creates movement, it helps you focus your energy and opens doors because others can see exactly what you’re aiming for.”

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 
To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 
Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Ceri speaks with Chantelle Purcell, a curator, producer, and visual artist who co-founded Hive Curates and Other Landz. Chantelle shares her experiences, from grassroots creative spaces to large public art projects, discussing how she manages the balance between community engagement, inclusive spaces and the art. With a passion for creating inclusive spaces and championing culturally diverse artists, Chantelle discusses her approach to curating with care at its centre. Ceri and Chantelle also discuss securing funding, building meaningful collaborations and creating a lasting legacy in public spaces.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Creating inclusive environments in the arts means challenging traditional models, through initiatives like Other Landz and Hive Curates, Chantelle builds platforms that specifically support culturally diverse artists and those who haven't had opportunities to create work in public spaces.
• The power of 'meanwhile spaces' lies in their flexibility and community impact, Chantelle's BroadWorks project transformed a disused building in Liverpool Street into a vibrant cultural hub, supporting over 300 creatives and attracting more than 10,000 visitors in 18 months.
• The etymology of curate is rooted in care, which should extend to artist development, community engagement and creating accessible spaces that honour local contexts and heritage.
• Chantelle's work with Enfield Winter Lights and Light Up Kilburn shows how Light festivals can create community engagement. These types of events can change perceptions of public spaces and create platforms for showcasing underrepresented artists.
• Building relationships with local authorities and developers requires understanding their priorities. You should research cultural policies, understand community demographics and begin engagement 6-9 months before events to build meaningful connections.
• The role of curator includes both curation and production. Beyond selecting artworks, curators must understand fabrication, planning permissions, community engagement and the entire ecosystem of networks that support public art projects.
• Chantelle shares that project management fees typically run about 20-25% of total budgets, with artist fees guided by industry standards, ensuring resources flow back into local communities.
• Chantelle began with a passion project that evolved into a sustainable business, demonstrating how creatives can test concepts, iterate, and develop their unique approach over time and create their own opportunities.

BEST MOMENTS

"I was always passionate about creativity from a really early age. I was lucky that I had the support of my mum, I was raised by a single parent, but she always encouraged fine art and creativity."

"Often we don't think of curation as being about care, if you think about the etymology of the words and the idea of care, I think we often forget this."

"For me, curation has evolved. It's changed. When I was working in a commercial context, it was more about curating a body of works for an exhibition. Now it's really about creating legacy and working with local communities."

"We realised that the physical interaction or encounter could happen in the public realm and so that's when we started to pivot."

"My idea of curation is challenged by the context in which I'm working in."

"It's being able to work with an artist, to give them all of the funding, perhaps the tools that they need to fabricate something that they have never fabricated before, to be part of that process

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.chantellempurcell.com/about

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

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Book a Discovery Call Today 
To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

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Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 
Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

In this solo episode, Ceri talks about how museums decide what art to collect and how you can get your work chosen. She reveals the strategic thinking behind how museums select artwork, from collection policies to board decisions and gives advice for artists looking to get their work into prestigious collections. Ceri explains that successful museum acquisitions happen when artists help institutions understand the storytelling within their work and shares why building authentic relationships is the foundation of a sustainable creative career.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Museum curators follow collecting policies approved by the institution and board, focusing on works that connect past collections with contemporary dialogues, unlock new stories, and address current social issues like climate justice.
• Successful museum acquisitions require artworks with multiple layers of storytelling that can work across various platforms, like exhibition spaces, press materials and learning resources.
• Artists should provide ’jumping off points’ rather than interpretations for their work, giving audiences different entry levels through Q&As, videos, quotes, or other ways that reveal process and motivation.
• Museums typically request a 20-25% discount when acquiring work due to the significant long term costs of preservation, storage, insurance and potential technological updates for digital works.
• Building your network effectively means focusing on 10-15 core champions rather than spreading yourself too thin, as quality relationships matter more than quantity.
• When reaching out to curators or artists you admire, reflect their work back to them first, show genuine enthusiasm and avoid tentative language, be direct about what you're proposing.
• For networking across multiple art worlds (animation, galleries, street art, etc.), start with one area, research and chunk your approach into manageable pieces rather than trying to tackle everything at once.
• Everyone in the art world regardless of their success level, experiences doubt and appreciates genuine recognition so sharing specific observations about what you value in someone's work creates a meaningful connection.

BEST MOMENTS

"Museums are the custodians of art for future generations and for the zeitgeist, they're thinking about how to share ideas of our time with future generations and unlock stories in the existing collection."

"The works that generally get bought are works that have multiple layers of storytelling, not just within the process, but within the image itself, because that image then gets distributed across press, archives, internal communications."

"Don't be shy and distant and aloof and just hope that the work does all the magic for you because that's putting a lot of responsibility on the artwork and assuming that everybody is literate in your language."

"It only takes 10 to 15 core champions in order to have a sustainable, creative career. So when we think about less is more, it's better to go deep with a few people than to try and hit a ton of people all at the same time."

"When we hesitate, it gives people an out. Instead, say 'I know we would have a brilliant conversation because I know there are amazing people not just in my network, but I know that you would resonate with some of the things that I'm thinking about.'"

"Sometimes a curator and an artist work magic together and together they do extraordinary things. They come up with new ideas, so it doesn't look like the same curator and art partnership because they bring out the best in each other."

EPISODE RESOURCES

cerihand.com/courses

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

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Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! 

https://cerihand.com/membership/ 

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Build Relationships The Easy Way
Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network,"  offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today 
To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity 
Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.