MiAL Selection Panel 2019!
It’s that time of year again and the clock is ticking for those of you who wish to apply to become a Made in Arts London artist!
The application deadline has been extended until midnight on Sunday 9th June and is open to all current University of the Arts London students. Made in Arts London represents students for two years and, in addition to offering professional development, we provide opportunities to sell and exhibit your work online and at various exhibitions and markets. Each new collection is selected by an external panel of industry professionals, and selected and non-selected students all receive constructive feedback.
With that in mind, we are thrilled to announce our second judge – Louisa Pacifico. We welcome her back to the Made in Arts London 2019 Collection selection panel!
Louisa has dedicated her education and professional career to supporting design in the UK. From event managing shows, such as New Designers and Clerkenwell Design Week, Louisa also led charity Craft Central as their most recent Chief Executive.
Today, Louisa runs her own business – Future Icons, a membership-based consultancy that enables selected craft and design-led businesses a sustainable future through coaching, networking, and identifying their market place.
Alongside this, Louisa is also a partner at 67 York Street – a supportive gallery space in the heart of Marylebone dedicated to offering design, craft, and art-led brands a chance to showcase and sell their work at a subsidised rate.
We asked Louisa…
What are you most looking forward to about being a Made in Arts London panellist?
I love discovering new talent. When I worked on New Designers in the mid-00s, I loved meeting and supporting the graduates; so many fresh ideas, year in year out. Since that time, I’ve seen talent blossom and build their own businesses, some have hit the dizzy heights of fame too – that’s what I hope to discover in the applications for Made in Arts London.
Why is supporting art students important to you?
They are the future of the creative industry. It’s exceptionally hard to earn a London living wage as a creative when one starts out, therefore the majority have to sacrifice money and time to give their business a chance to flourish. It’s at this stage I love to swoop in and offer support where needed, so they gain the confidence to keep on going.
Do you have any advice for recently graduated student who are beginning their career in the arts?
I’m a big believer in working in-house with established brands whilst building your own business. This will give you invaluable insight into to sales, production, marketing, and operations which one can apply to their own business.
Do you have a favourite place/hidden gem in London?
The owners of the Bussey Building in Peckham recently acquired the old Georgian mansion house and grounds of Beckenham Place Mansion, a former golf course. The mansion house has been transformed into affordable creative studios and the grounds are now open to the public for the first time in decades. They have made a huge commitment to this site by redeveloping the old stables into further workspaces and re-landscaping the grounds to include a wild swimming lake for the public to use. It’s simply glorious! I would love to take over a workspace so I can grow Future Icons and support my local creative community too.
Made in Arts London’s 2019 Collection will be launched in September this year.
To apply to join Made in Arts London, and to have your work judged by Louisa and the rest of this year’s panel, apply online.
Guides on how to complete the application form can be found in our previous blog post here.
