The FMP process is a module which enables the opportunity to begin relying on my own experience and instinct when it comes to direction and analysis of work and ideas. As the transition from the secure and supportive environment of university into creative independence begins, it is necessary to build a separate network of people that can provide the critical feedback and support as I embark on my professional career. In light of this, I had a meeting with friends, both of who are creative, talented business owners and importantly, able to be professionally critical. These women, among others, have contributed greatly to my creative practice since its inception at BA level. Thanks to Julie Birch and Sally Guibert

The purpose of the session was to discuss ideas beyond university, to look at my current work for my FMP and to ascertain how best to provide ongoing support and ensure accountability.

We talked about the importance and relevance of galleries, entering competitions and collaborative opportunities. Additionally, we discussed the merits of a gallery style website as a priority to remove over reliance on social media platforms, thus stepping into a more ‘professional’ practitioner role.

Key points:

1. Examples of places to contact for selling work include the Curated Store in Stow on the Wold, they have a strong social media presence and strong brand appeal (aligned with my own creative style)
2. Blockely Art collective – shared exhibition space
3. Spring and Sixteen gallery in Cheltenham. Ask for 12 month schedule to see if any opportunities
4. Wilson Gallery. Contact friend who is now CEO of Cheltenham Trust to discuss potential opportunities to develop a themed exhibition, collaborating with other artists / photographers.
5. Momentum. Meet monthly to share ideas and to stay accountable. Consider workspace opportunities for collaborative working.
6. Have a large roll of paper or flip chart in my workspace so that I can detail tasks and ideas, then they are clearly visible and act as reminders.
7. Target fixed number of hours per week to stay on task. I find unless I do this, the week can become overwhelming with other non-creative tasks and I stop making it a priority. This is hugely frustrating and stifles my progress. Prioritising my creative ambitions over a very busy homelife is psychologically difficult as it isn’t a paid 9-5 job. This mindset is something I am challenging as I realise its a key barrier to my future success.

We have planned to meet quarterly to discuss these ideas (my friends have creative projects of their own) so that we can offer support and feedback to one another. Working independently can be quite a lonely scenario and it is usefel to have feedback from people who are honest and critical.