OCA Textiles 3 Sustaining My Practice- Part 3- Informed Creative Development

Assignment 3-Exercise 2 Promotional Strategy

Also see https://weaveprint.com/ (including https://weaveprint.com/2021/07/07/oca-textiles-3-sustaining-my-practice-part-2-making-connections-4/ and https://weaveprint.com/2021/07/07/oca-textiles-3-sustaining-my-practice-part-2-making-connections-2/ )

Gillian Morris Student No. 511388

As part of my promotional strategy, I have developed an increased social media presence which includes a Facebook artists page, Instagram account and an online blog through WordPress- https://weaveprint.com/ Since I started this OCA online blog three years ago I have continued to update it on a daily-weekly basis which has meant there are now over one hundred and fifty blog entries on the site which contemporaneously documents and evidences my creative work and process. Through doing so I have created an increased following and interest in my creative process and work. I continue to attract an ever-increasing audience which will hopefully become a significant customer base as I make more textiles to sell, and I can take on commission work. I continue to encourage others to offer feedback and to review my work as well as to share so I can become more known to have greater opportunities to engage with others to develop my creative practice beyond where I am currently. While I do intend to develop a website given the scale of interest already gleaned through my online blog, I initially wish to continue to develop this first as I have already put so much work into the site and I am currently benefiting from this. I hope to promote commissions initially as well as developing several interior ranges for customers to buy from through a series of possible outlets, galleries, and websites.

What is it about your work that you want to communicate?

Following on from initial ideas generated and research processes undertaken I am led visually by what I wish and need to communicate emotionally which is often focused upon relating and as I discover what is needed, I gain a visual vocabulary for the ideas that I am exploring through my artwork. My creative process and way of making is informed by environmental sustainability which uses what is often deemed waste but creates no waste through the materials I work with and the way I work which is readily communicated to and with others. Through intuitive relating and responding with such material I convey an emotional resonance with the core themes under investigation, which is in line with my narrative, of human relating, of the journey from mental distress and crisis to mental recovery and repair.

What is the function of the promotion? Are you looking to educate viewers, to entice the potential viewers, buyers, and collaborators, to engage in a conversation, or some other function?

The function of a promotional strategy for me is to make with meaning to attract an audience which become customers who wish to follow me, get involved, to engage, to share my creative work, to promote me and my creative work through networking opportunities, to purchase my textile art and to continue to advertise my work to others to encourage an increased interest to help me to establish a niche in the marketplace for what I do and make. The goals of promotion are to create awareness, encourage people to see my textile art, to provide and distribute information concerning myself, creative work and process, to create additional opportunities for direct audience contact and involvement, to develop artist-audience relationships and an interested audience-customer database, to keep loyal customers through frequent information updates especially regarding new work, to continue to identify and attract potential new customers, and to teach, offer workshops and demonstrations to extend the level of interest in my work.  Using accumulated research information concerning the success of other textile artists marketing efforts I aim to utilise well known promotional avenues through Craft Scotland, Wasps and Create Scotland who offer extensive promotional opportunities and support for artists.

Who is your audience and how do you reach them? Do you need to make something or do something to reach them?

I aim to offer unique and original pieces of textile art which hold meaning and relevance for me and/or the customer/audience so I have a specific clientele in mind, those who are looking for unique pieces of textile art using print, weave and/or stitch. I aim to exhibit more widely so expect to link in with galleries, gallery owners, curators, textile art collectors and membership organisations to develop my audience. Since I also wish to specialise in interiors for residential and commercial premises I aim to liaise with a range of sources, agencies and companies concerning project work, open calls, and commissions through direct contact, specialist websites like Scottish Contemporary Art Network, AXA Directory, Design Nation, https://blog.theexhibit.io/for-artists-and-curators/  as well as others…  https://artcuratoronline.com/   https://www.curatorspace.com/   membership organisations like the 62 Group and Edge for exhibitions alongside competitions and sponsorship. I will engage with public bodies including the NHS as my textile art is well placed for public spaces and buildings like hospitals and health clinics. Connecting with private concerns and commercial businesses/outlets could extend opportunities including conference suites, exhibition centres, etc.  Building my audience is crucial to being a successful textile artist so the use of social media and an increased online presence is required which will be supported by Craft Scotland and Wasps. I realise the importance of having a continuing stream of customers who will repeatedly want to buy from me as fundamental to my survival as a contemporary textile artist.

If you’re working towards exhibiting your work in a space, can you inform your audience of dates and times and places, or will you build to this?

All related information regarding the exhibition will be advertised and distributed well in advance. I see the promotion of me and the exhibition as another creative activity and a priority objective as appearance and presentation are prerequisites for sustaining my creative practice.  I aim to produce professional web-based images, business cards and postcards to promote the exhibition and for use at the exhibition. I aim to produce a quality artist statement, one-page curriculum vitae, promotional flyers with related literature for the wider public and audience to get to know me and my work, to produce added interest in what I am doing and why. I will promote the exhibition space and use imagery from creating within the adjacent studio space at Hanson Street Studios to make myself and how I work more known to others through Wasps and my own online presence which will include all relevant exhibition details.  I will use social media including Facebook, Instagram, and my online blog/website to promote the exhibition online. I aim to make a brief video for my blog/website to encourage increased promotion and sharing on social media. Marketing statements will be developed for press/media releases, leaflets, brochures, etc, and for galleries which focus on the relationship between theme, materials, techniques, and style which include print/stitch sampling.  

What journals, magazines and/or blogs might be interested in featuring your work?

Textile Research Journal, International Journal of Education & the Arts, TEXTILE Cloth and Culture, Craft Scotland, Surface Design Association (SDA), Embroidery Magazine, Selvedge Magazine, Fiber Art Now, Crafts Magazine, British Tapestry Group Magazine.

TextileArtist.org, https://www.textileartist.org/   Ecotextile News, https://www.ecotextile.com/   Textile Textile Consult http://www.textileconsult.co.uk/blog-textile-talk/  TextileTalk Study Group- Artists and tutors sharing ideas imagination and skills,  https://textilestudygroup.wordpress.com/    The Textile Blog …inspiring creativity  https://thetextileblog.blogspot.com/  Blog – The Sustainable Fashion Collective  https://www.the-sustainable-fashion-collective.com/news  Fashion and Textile Museum https://fashiontextilemuseumblog.wordpress.com/

Are there any events that you can join as a means of presenting your work?

I plan to become a Wasps tenant through hiring a small studio space within the Artist’s Studio Complex at Hanson Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow. Being a Wasps Tenant affords many opportunities to exhibit my work regularly with minimal outlay as Wasps offer exhibiting and selling opportunities through the Arts & Enterprise programme including Exhibitions with over 50% of the artists who exhibited in their gallery programmes were Wasps tenants, which also include Makers Markets, South Block Shop, Open Studios, Art Fairs.

Do you need to formulate ideas for promotional printed material – business cards, postcards, flyers, posters, CV, artist/designer’s statement, etc?  What is appropriate for you?

As stated, I see the promotion of me and my creative work and process as intertwined, of the necessity to capitalise upon any event or opportunity that I am involved in/with including exhibitions to design and produce a range of promotional material for the audience-potential customers to take away to look at and use, to help remind them of me and my textile art and to increase the likelihood for ongoing contact and further interest. I consider the formulation, development, and production of   promotional printed material as another creative activity and a priority objective as appearance and presentation are prerequisites for sustaining my creative practice.  I aim to produce professional web-based images, business cards, posters, and postcards to promote the exhibition and for use at the exhibition. I aim to produce a quality artist statement, one-page curriculum vitae, promotional flyers with related literature for the wider public and audience to get to know me and my work, to produce added interest in what I am doing and why. I will promote the exhibition space and use imagery from creating within the adjacent studio space at Hanson Street Studios to make myself and how I work more known to others through Wasps and my own online presence which will include all relevant exhibition details.  I will use social media including Facebook, Instagram, and my online blog/website to promote the exhibition online. I aim to make a brief video for my blog/website to encourage increased promotion and sharing on social media. Marketing statements will be developed for press/media releases, leaflets, brochures, etc, and for galleries which focus on the relationship between theme, materials, techniques, and style which include print/stitch sampling. 

What about your online and social media strategy? Do you want to build a new website? How do you keep it professional?

As stated, my online and social media strategy continues unabated however I continue to develop ideas for a new website. Through extensive research processes I have increasingly examined what others do, worked out which website styles they and I like including preferred layouts and pages. I have considered the range of options available for building my own website with a simple template however I now prefer to recruit some informal expert help from friends who are currently recruited within the related fields to support me through the process to ensure a professional format. As emphasised, there are many decisions to make, so I aim to address them going forward with the support of others with the necessary web development knowledge and understanding using self-build sites.  So, I can build up my expertise in this area while still creating my work. Best Website Builders in 2021 in the UK have already been researched and with professional advice using the leading Website Builders in the industry I aim to choose the one that’s best for my needs once pricing and features have been reviewed from the top brands like Wix, Ionos, Network Solutions and WordPress.Com.

As noted, the promotional strategy has continued to evolve which has progressively become more formalised with the identification of the Wasps studio complex at Hanson Street, 77 Hanson Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow G31 2HF as the preferred exhibition space for my forthcoming exhibition during 2021. That said I have now submitted a formal exhibition proposal which has been accepted and I continue to wait for confirmation of the dates from Wasps. Once the exhibition dates have been formally confirmed I can start to organise the promotional printed material and prepare for the exhibition itself including working out the preferred layout and placement of my creative work. Since Hanson Steet studio complex is already so well-known especially the exhibition space as I undertake all my large-scale screen printing there and I have already often used the exhibition space to hang my work and to photograph it in situ I am well acquaint with the space and its overall potential.

Craft Scotland is the national development agency supporting makers and promoting craft in Scotland. They champion and support a diverse and high-quality contemporary craft to help people learn about, appreciate and buy craft, promoting the contribution of craft to Scotland’s cultural, economic and social well-being. Through their exhibitions and events programmes, digital platforms and strategic partnerships, they create opportunities for makers to develop their creative and business practice, and to exhibit and sell work in Scotland and beyond. Their website provides a platform for craft enthusiasts to engage and learn about Scottish-based makers and craft destinations. Thousands of people visit craftscotland.org every month to find out more about craft, see what exhibitions, events and workshops are on in their area, and to commission craft directly from the makers. It is therefore one of the key agencies which I am involved with to help me to promote myself and my creative practice. I am kept abreast of all relevant opportunities through their online monthly newletter which is automatically emailed onto me. Next-See an example of a recent edition of the Craft Scotland Newsletter. I plan to engage in a range of CPD workshops and to follow up with open calls, competitions, funding possibilities for new work and to experience greater involvement with Craft Scotland to show my creative process and work.

Your monthly Maker Opportunities newsletter Craft Scotland is committed to supporting Scotland-based makers to develop a resilient creative and business practice.  We know how time-consuming finding the right opportunity for your practice can be, so every month we share hand-picked, relevant opportunities from Scotland and beyond.

Craft Scotland Opportunities Sustainable Making Survey Closing date: 26 Aug 2021 The Climate Change Act 2019 commits Scotland to net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. We want to find out how Scotland-based makers are already working towards this goal.  Opportunity provided by: Craft Scotland Location: Online Jorum Craft Award – Round 3 Closing date: 9 Sept 2021 The Jorum Craft Award provides funding to assist with the development of a maker’s creative practice, including but not limited to research and development of a new piece of work, project, or collection. The Jorum Craft Award is supported by Jorum Studio, in association with Craft Scotland.  Opportunity provided by: Jorum Studio & Craft Scotland Location: Across Scotland List an Associated Event at Craft Week Scotland 2021 Closing date: Midnight, 11 Sep 2021 Join Craft Scotland this October for Craft Week Scotland, a celebration of Scottish contemporary craft. Running from Monday 25 – Sunday 31 October 2021, Craft Week Scotland aims to highlight the vibrant craft sector and encourage Scotland to shop local and handmade. From listing an Associated Event on the Craft Scotland website to sharing stories and works online via social media #CraftWeekScotland, there are many ways to take part this year.  Opportunity provided by: Craft Scotland Location: Across Scotland & Online

Craft & Cultural Conversations 2021 Join Craft Scotland for Craft & Cultural Conversations 2021, curated by Dr Catharine Rossi, to discuss what community means for craft today and what’s needed to ensure strong, vibrant and inclusive craft communities in the future.  Our new Sliding Scale Tickets ensure Craft Scotland events are as accessible as possible for the Scottish craft community.   Craft Scotland is a registered charity, and all tickets purchased contribute towards our vibrant programme that supports makers and champions Scottish contemporary craft.  Community vs. Network Event date: 11am-12.30pm, 23 Sept 2021  Hear from Professor Daniel Charny in this opening keynote about things he has learnt and unlearnt about communities and making over the last 20 years. Book your place.  Researching Craft & Communities Event date: 11am-12.30pm, 7 Oct 2021 Academics Dr Karen Patel, Dr Stephen Knott, Dr Justin Marshall share their insights into craft communities in UK, China and India in this panel discussion. Discover a range of perspectives including the impacts of inequalities, digital tools in craft and social media/entrepreneurism. Book your place.  Engaging Communities through Craft Event date: 11am – 12.30pm, 21 Oct 2021 Deirdre Figueiredo MBE in conversation with Professor Fiona Hackney. A series of short image-provocations will accompany stories designed to promote questions about how, why, and to what ends craft engages communities. Book your place.  Opportunity provided by: Craft Scotland Location: Online  Image: Concrete letters by Studio Emma / Photography by Susan Castillo

Awards & Competitions 2021 Cordis Prize for Tapestry  Closing date: 23 Aug 2021  The world’s biggest award for tapestry, the Cordis Prize for Tapestry aims to encourage and reward ambition and scale in the field of contemporary weaving. Opportunity provided by: The Cordis Prize Location: Across the UK  Creative Edinburgh Awards 2021 Closing date: 13 Sep 2021 The Creative Edinburgh Awards is back! 2021’s Awards programme will continue to celebrate, amplify and unite the people, places and projects building a resilient creative ecosystem within Edinburgh. Opportunity provided by: Creative Edinburgh Location: Edinburgh The Silver Society Prize 2021 Closing date: 30 Sep 2021 The Silver Society is pleased to announce the launch of its annual Prize for 2021, awarded to a silversmith who is either aged under 35 or in the first five years of their career as a practising silversmith. Opportunity provided by: The Silver Society Location: Across the UK

Exhibit & Sell The Makers’ Market at The Royal Exchange Closing date: 13 Aug 2021 Designers are invited to apply for a space at The Makers’ Market at The Royal Exchange. There will be no charge for successful designers to exhibit and sell in the space. Products should not have been seen before, and should be available to purchase. Opportunity provided by: The Royal Exchange Location: London flock 2021 – Applications Now Open Closing date: 22 Aug 2021 Calling all craft designer-makers! After an uncertain year, The Barn are pleased to announce the opening of applications for an in-person flock 2021. Opportunity provided by: The Barn Location: Banchory  Handmade Chelsea: The Contemporary Craft and Design Fair Closing date: 31 Aug 2021 Applications are now open for Handmade Chelsea’s return to Chelsea Old Town Hall for its 14th edition, 10 to 14 November 2021. Opportunity provided by: Handmade in Britain Location: London & Online Art On the Exchange: City Centre Arts Market Closing date: 20 Sep 2021 Art On Scotland is looking for artists and makers to showcase their work this winter in Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow. Opportunity provided by: Art On Scotland Location: Glasgow

Conferences & Maker Training  Spring-Back Talks Closing date: 8 Sep 2021 Crafts Council presents ten online talks to get your craft business ready for digital and physical opportunities in 2021 and beyond. Opportunity provided by: Crafts Council Location: Online Fair Pay for Artists: Exhibition Payment Symposium 2021 Closing date: 24 Sep 2021 Fair Pay for Artists, a Symposium organized in Helsinki, Finland and streamed digitally across the world, invites visual art professionals, organisations, audiences and decision-makers to discuss the income models of visual artists. Opportunity provided by: IAA Europe, The Artists’ Association of Finland and a-n Location: Helsinki & Online

Funding Open Fund for Individuals – Creative Scotland Opening date: 10 Aug 2021 The Open Fund will support a period of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity for freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners living in Scotland for up to 24 months. New simplified online application process launches from 10 Aug 2021 and you can book a 1:1 information session in August & September. Opportunity provided by: Creative Scotland Location: All across Scotland Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) Application Closing date: 16 Aug 2021 The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) offers grants of up to £18,000 to talented makers looking to further their education – it can be through traditional college courses, one to one workshops with master craftspeople, or bespoke training plans. Opportunity provided by: QEST Location: All across the UK Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grants Closing date: 22 Sep 2021 Art Fund’s Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grants support UK curators, museum professionals and researchers to undertake travel and other activities that will extend and develop their curatorial expertise, collections-based knowledge and art historical interests. Opportunity provided by: Art Fund Location: Across the UK

Residencies & Jobs TOAST & Crafts Council Artist in Residence Closing date: 6 Aug 2021 TOAST & Crafts Council invite an artist in residence to showcase their work during a three-day Creative Residency, inspired by the Autumn-Winter collection ‘Rewilding’ at the Crafts Council Gallery in Islington from 21 – 23 Oct 2021. Opportunity by: TOAST & Crafts Council Location: London Ceramic Tutors Closing date: 30 Aug 2021 Dundee Ceramics Workshop are looking for proposals for courses between four and six weeks, beginning Sept 2021. Suitable for beginners and introduce a range of hand-building, wheel-throwing or specialist techniques. Opportunity by: Dundee Ceramics Workshop Location: Dundee

Volunteering Artist Member for the Board Closing date: 6 Aug 2021 Fife Contemporary wishes to appoint artist members to their voluntary Board as they are developing their new business plan/future programme. Opportunity provided by: Fife Contemporary Location: Across Scotland

Studios & Workshop Studios Desk space available Closing date: 31 Aug 2021 Studio desk space available with SPOT at the end of August in The Briggait, central Glasgow Opportunity provided by: SPOT Location: Glasgow Ceramics Regular Practice at SSW Rolling deadline A new programme for beginners and intermediate learners in ceramics, offering regular access to SSW’s experimental ceramics workshop in Aberdeenshire. Opportunity provided by: Scottish Sculpture Workshop Location: Lumsden Studio Pods for Rent @ Vanilla Ink, The Smiddy, Banff Rolling deadline Vanilla Ink, The Smiddy is offering their brand new INKspiration pods for rent to silversmiths and jewellers. Opportunity provided by: Vanilla Ink, The Smiddy Location: Banff Low cost studio spaces – EP spaces Rolling deadline EP Spaces have over 30 low-cost spaces all across Scotland for creative use. Opportunity provided by: EP Spaces Location: Across Scotland

Craft Scotland Online Monthly Newsletter from July 2021 which ensures inclusion of all relevant news for artists

I am in the process of expanding my Craft Scotland membership, to further promote myself and my creative practice and to send textile art-related videos to their new Craft TV section on their website. Email hello@craftscotland.org. Through several research processes I have been particularly inspired by Eliza Kesuma and Eve Campbell who have both managed to grow their creative practice and business through capitalising upon the same agencies, processes, and funding that I am now currently investigating through active engagement, collaboration, and ongoing communication.

Eliza Kesuma is a printed textiles designer and maker, specialising in meticulously crafted hand-printed wallpaper and fabrics and the founder of Moody Monday. After graduating with a degree in Design for Textiles from Heriot-Watt University in 2006, she undertook numerous freelance projects and work experience opportunities with notable design companies. She joined a major interiors company, as part of their communication and design team in 2008, and then decided to follow her dream and set-up on her own in 2011 after receiving her first wallpaper commission from a design-boutique in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Then Eliza Kesuma established Moody Monday in 2014 given the demand for her work. She sees connections between objects and subjects that are unconventionally meant for each other. https://www.moodymonday.co.uk/

Eve Campbell has an interest in creating surface pattern inspired by Scottish nature and architecture to create printed wall hangings and ceramic tiles. Through paper stencilling and screen printing her prints capture the colours, shapes, and patterns of nature on Scotland’s West Coast. https://www.evecampbell.co.uk/  ‘Wildwood’ is a newer collection of wall hangings inspired by the natural woodland where a unique habitat is formed of Atlantic hazel and oak. This natural woodland is recognised for its valuable biodiversity, rich with detail, shape, and colour. Mosses form thick carpets over rocks and leaning branches. Mottled textures and colours of fungi and lichen on hazel stems are illuminated by light filtering through a dense canopy which enabled translation of such detail on bold structures with areas of darkness and light through the screen-printing process, The collection found a balance with repetitive pattern for wall hangings and more random elements designed with colour, shapes, and patterns. https://www.evecampbell.co.uk/wildwood

Eve Campbell graduated in Textile Design from The Glasgow School of Art in 2018 before setting up a small print studio in Tighnabruaich on the West Coast of Scotland whereupon she has continued to go from strength to strength in terms of establishing and promoting herself, her creative work and business, to sell her work successfully nationally and internationally. From reviewing two successful experiences involving textile print artists I have been encouraged to follow their business model in terms of actively communicating with Craft Scotland, Creative Scotland, Wasps, Visual Arts Scotland, Membership Organisations, Textiles Scotland as well as Arts and Business Scotland to help develop my creative business, to be able to exhibit more extensively, to widen audience access online and face to face with the support of such agencies, to foster commissions and to sell work through showing my creative work and process, of generating interest through being known.

Artist opportunities are widespread throughout the internet, extensive research processes continue to investigate the most appropriate for me, to ensure my work can be promoted in ways which suit me and the ways I work creatively as well as matching up with the most well-suited markets who are likely to be interested in my creative work. As stated by Alessandro Vincentelli, Curator of Exhibitions & Research, BALTIC “Axis web provides an absolutely invaluable service to artists, curators and commissioners across the country.”