You are all set tasks in class but to really achieve you need to show a deep understanding of the creative world. This blog is designed to give you a range of starting points, should you not know how to start. You should be visiting galleries, watching films and TV being curious about how it was made. Watching documentaries about Creative practise or topics that will inform your work. You should be trying out ideas inspired by your findings.
Universities expect you to be interested and to be trying things out. I have attached some research of the things universities think young people are lacking when they join, if you use this blog and explore the work it'll be a great way to understand why it is so important to start developing these skills now.
SPIN THE WHEEL BELOW!
Stuck for how to develop your work? Why not spin the wheel and see what that tells you do and try that?
SPIN THE WHEEL HERE! TO SEE WHAT TO DO NEXT!
STUCK IN THE HOUSE? DOOM SCROLLING? NEED A SOCIAL MEDIA HIATUS? YOU COULD BE FINDING NEW THINKS OUT INSTEAD.
LEARN NEW THINGS IN A WAY YOU DON'T REALISE YOU ARE LEARNING
TV AND STREAMING
You will all have access to a wide range of streaming services. All have a wide range of options. Watching a series and thinking about how it was made and how they told the story is a great starting point. I assume you are watching programmes you enjoy but do you consider how the story is told?
Why do they use those colours? Why is is shot in that space? How does the editting help tell the story? How has costume made the show more believeable? Why does that Dragon look so real? Why does it feel real but you know it's set in space in the future? Etc... All these ideas can help you develop your ideas. You can watch the shows and do the research after.
Obviusly there are all the documentaries and factual content too, why not look at creatives you like first and understand their processes, then watch others about people mentioned in that blog. ie: Watching about the making of Nevermind, you discover Nirvana were inspired by Sonic Youth. Who are they? Go and discover it? Make the connections.
BBC I Player: Arts Section
Sky Arts
Like the BBC but you will have to have a sky account to watch the content.
Netflix
Reccommended Abstract. 8 Episodes on Youtube and more on Netflix itself. Shows a creative in their chosen field and the processes they go through. All episodes are worth watching as it shows their inspirations, development and newest work.
YOUTUBE CHANNELS AND BLOGS
There are of course thousands of youtube channels to watch, these few selected channels I watch and have a wide range of ideas and topics covered so a good starting point, you will be able to follow the youtube rabbit hole to find your own things, give yourself time and just because something isn't immediately and perfectly suited to your idea you might learn something or they might mention another artist to follow. It should be fun and energising as you see all these cool ways of working, ideas and concepts.
Below are a small selection of many 100s of great channels, sharing the tricks of the trade, indepth analysis and thinking. These are potential starting points, but I also look at PBS Art Assignment, Curious Muse, Great Art explained, Corridor Crew, Tate, Nerdwriter, D&AD - Creative Advertising, Design and Digital, Louisiana Channel, Vanity Fair. VFX Artist react, Architectural Digest, Letterboxd, St Ive's School of Painting, Thomas Flight So please check these guys out too.
MAGAZINES
There are hundreds of these to discover too and it will be up to you to find one that best suits your tone and ear. You might love how one magazine writes but someone else hates it. Have a look at a few and select your favourites. There are also specialist magazines for specific techniques which might also interest you.
Dazed / i-D / Vice / Pressing Matters / Fruits / Mundial / Q / Art And Architecture / OOF / Oh Comely etc .etc.etc. All can be bought physically. WHSmith is best starting point. Rare Mags in Stockport, Village Books, UNITOM and The Modernist In Manchester
GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS
When researching it's vital you find official information about the artists so you know it is accurate. The galleries have all the most vital information so use them when you can. You can also guarantee the work is by the artist to show you know you have researched properly.
There are loads of other galleries and museums in the Northwest for you to visit and research. The Bolton Art gallery is great, but I assume you can visit that rather than googling it. The Harris in Preston, Blue Coat, Open Eye and Rennies Art and Craft Galleries in Liverpool. The Castlefield Gallery in Manchester.
There are loads of others but you can google them too. All towns have Musuems and art galleries all these are ones I know and rate as galleries.
INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES
There are too many to mention them all but these are the major art galleries across the World and so you can find most artwork or artists. There are 100s of musuems I have not even mentioned if you want more ethnographic or historical ideas.
MOMA, The Met in NewYork / Lourve and Musee D'Orsay in Paris / Guggenheims across the world / Prado Madrid / The Hermitage, St Petersburg / Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam / Neues Museum, Germany / National Gallery Scotland, Edinburgh and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. The Uffizi in Florence and Pirelli hangar bicocca in Milan.
VIRTUAL TOURS
Virtual Tours are available for most galleries now, here is a Guardian Article with there 10 favourite.
Time Out also did a similar article. here.
OTHER CREATIVE SPACES
We want you to realise a career in the arts and the arts in general is very broad and their are lots of interesting things going on across the North west you can get involved with. Here are a few to get you started but many more will exist. There is something for everyone.
Theatres: The Octagon Bolton / The Royal Exchange Theatre / The Library Theatre / Whitefield Garrick Theatre / Hope Mill Theatre. Creative spaces: Home Manchester / Hot Bed Press / Rivington Terraced Gardens Music venues: The Manchester Academies / MEN now AO arena / Bridgewater Hall / Band on the Wall
Please let us know if you think of somewhere not mentioned that can not be missed.
DEGREE SHOWS AND OPEN DAYS
We will be visited a range of degree shows at the end of the year. Here are a selection of shows from across the country to see what to expect.
University for the Creative Arts
Manchester Metropolitan University
Sunderland Creatives Schools and Colleges | The University of Sunderland
Loughborough University Design Show
New Designers New Designers Schools Days| Inspire Students With Design Talent & Creative Trips
Ulster University Graduate Showcase 2021 - YouTube
Coventry University Degree Show 2023
University of the West of England Creative Industries Showcase - Degree Shows | UWE Bristol
University of Westminster Westminster Degree Show 2021
UCL (University College London)
CSM (UAL Central Saint Martins)
J O B S A N D C A R E E R S
You should look at what options are available to you in the local area and if your dream job will allow you to live your dream life. Careers are often a compromise, in most cases, so go in with open eyes and give yourselves options. If you can't be a architect maybe an engineer role could work, if you can't build a skyscraper maybe you can make the models and and do the tests to ensure it doesn't fall down. If a movie star is a huge risk, maybe you can make all their props or costumes? There are 1000s of roles you won't be aware of so go look.
Below are a range of options to search but there are loads of others, you can usually type your dream job into the search bar and see what your options are. Enjoy
OK! All that should, at least, get you started! Enjoy!
Ideas in Art 2024