Don’t tie yourself down as skills can be transferred across the creative industries and the more varied work you do, the more contacts you’ll make and the greater awareness generally you’ll develop
What is your job?
I'm a freelance Project Manager
What does your job involve?
I’m currently working for CITIN – the Creative Industries Technology Innovation Network, which is involved in knowledge transfer within the creative industries.
How did you get to this point in your career?
I’ve worked in fine art galleries and later became a researcher. I then managed projects for a gardening magazine and more recently managed a large fashion project. I’ve also had three children along the way! It’s been a fairly haphazard route but I’ve always had that involvement in the creative industries, blending creativity with management which always helps to broaden your job possibilities more than adhering to purely creative work.
What training did you do and where?
All my training is through experience. I’ve got a diploma in marketing and a French diploma that I did in France – otherwise it’s all down to experience. I think general and vocational skills are useful, and the willingness to move across different vocational industries.
Which piece of work are you most proud of?
Cutting IT - a project to build a partnership helping small businesses in the clothing and textile sector in East London to adapt to the impact of changing market conditions and new technologies. It represents four years’ hard work and the project has had an amazing impact – managing this project gave me loads of confidence and also achieved something substantial.
What do you need to succeed in your industry?
Having a big break like Cutting IT can make a huge difference. Getting the right contacts in the creative industries and using them is a great help. As a freelancer you always need to be able to prove your worth for the next job, so make sure that every piece of work you do shows you to your best advantage.
Don’t tie yourself down as skills can be transferred across the creative industries and the more varied work you do, the more contacts you’ll make and the greater awareness generally you’ll develop – all very useful!
Who’s your work hero / heroine?
None really - there are many people I admire greatly but I don’t want to be them!
What inspired you to do this type of work?
The idea of working in the creative industries was a massive inspiration for me. Working within them and getting to understand them better, and also the value of the creative industries generally.
What do your friends/family think of the work you do?
I’ve always been the one in my family to do something different, so they’re not surprised at what I do and have been very supportive. They are always happy to talk with me about my work, without necessarily understanding the values behind it.
What are your tips for anyone wanting to do your job?
Patience, and lots of it! Listening skills are essential and being willing to do loads of research. You need to be the person that helps others to release their ideas and then facilitate the forging of ideas into the way forward. The creative industries are all about the exchange of ideas and information and you need to be able base any plans on research and facts – spend time gathering information rather than just jumping in.
Develop a network of contacts and have confidence in yourself – believe that you can do it and develop this with each piece of work you do.
Be objective – take time to sit back and look at the bigger picture rather than getting bogged down with the finer details
.
Creative inspirations
Fine arts generally
but two favourites are Rodin and Hodgkin
Colours
The depth and resonance of colours can be deeply moving.
Installation art
The mixture of creativity and technology.
Gardening and garden design
It probably got me into project management. You can get real and get dirty with it and the rewards are long-term rather than instant gratification.
Visuals
Graphic and layout design in 2D and 3D – things that show the thought processes behind whatever is being presented.
The creative process
that goes on behind anything that is being displayed.
Theatre
… and all performing arts, including…
Dance
All forms of dance, but ballet in particular.
Creating games with children
Playing with ideas and creating things
If you would like advice on creative careers and courses, contact a Creative Way Careers Adviser - either Matt Ball on m.ball@uel.ac.uk / 07889 001764 or Sarah Comerford on s.comerford@uel.ac.uk / 07515 051509.