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.
We are ecstatic to announce our incredible Advisory Board member – Hannah Payne. Hannah is the third panel member invited to curate our 2019 collection!
Hannah Payne (ACIM) is the Director of Marketing at TM Lighting – leading art lighting specialists whose clients include internationally renowned artists, collections, galleries, museums, and creative institutions.
Hannah’s background includes over 15 years at leading UK arts and heritage institutions including Blenheim Palace, the Royal Academy of Arts, Olympia International Art & Antiques Fairs, and John Jones London. Hannah has delivered marketing and brand strategies for clients across multiple platforms, and she’s developed major partnerships with Masterpiece London, English Heritage, the Crafts Council, London Art Fair, and the London Design Festival.
Hannah leads the art programme at TM Lighting Gallery, a non-profit exhibition space that supports emerging artists including hosting the Made in Arts London Collection in 2018 and 2019. Hannah is also a member of the Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA), a network that supports women working in the visual arts sector. As a UAL alumna, Hannah is delighted to be returning to support emerging creative talent with Made in Arts London.
UAL’s Made in Arts London annual exhibition at TM Lighting Gallery, 2018.
You can follow Hannah on Instagram: @Hannah_payne_art
We asked Hannah…
What are you most looking forward to about being a Made in Arts London panellist?
The best part of my job is working with artists and designers and, of course, it’s always exciting to see new work. It’s great seeing where opportunities such as this can take people as their careers progress, so it’s an honour to join the Made in Arts London panel and to be involved at this stage. So many brilliant creatives have come out of UAL and Made in Arts London.
Who, what, or where has most recently inspired you?
Most recently I’ve been inspired by many brilliant women leading in the art world – spearheading projects to support emerging artists, creating platforms to champion women artists, and instigating many other important outreach projects. This is happening globally so, to narrow it down, I’ll namecheck a few doing exciting things in and around London (and I urge you to follow them on Instagram!) Becca-Pelly-Fry, Head Curator at Elephant West; Katy Hessel, The Great Women Artists; Kate Bryan, Head of Collections at Soho House; Lara Wardle, Director Curator of the Jerwood Collection; Jo Baring, Director of the Ingram Collection; Caroline Worthington, Director of the Royal Society of Sculptors; Julie Bentley, Co-founder of AFTER and Director of 163 Gallery; Niamh White, Curator at Hospital Rooms; Maggie O’Regan, Curator of Pinsent Masons’ art programme and Director of InSitu art consultancy; Mary Doyle, Director of Drawing Room. I could go on!
Why is supporting art students important to you?
It’s tough for artists and creatives looking to make the leap from education onto the next step in their careers. The art world particularly can be intimidating, daunting and, sadly, breaks are often enjoyed by a privileged few. I think it’s very important to make the art world more accessible to all; experts and professionals providing advice and support can make a huge difference.
Do you have any advice for recently graduated students who are beginning their careers in the arts?
I think the big questions of ‘who do I want to be?’ and ‘what do I want to do?’ are really daunting; you can end up feeling lost and disillusioned. Give yourself a break. Most people are still asking these questions ten, twenty years on! Be open-minded. There are so many different routes you can explore and so many creative sector jobs you might not have considered. I think it’s helpful to break things down into shorter term goals such as ‘what is the next project I want to be involved in?’ ‘What do I want to experience next?’ Try think about the direction or area you might like to move into next and immerse yourself in that. Go to gallery private views to get a sense of the kind of artists they represent (in most cases, you can sign up for invites on their website or see them on social media), attend talks, enter awards, join groups to meet and network with other artists and influential people, support others by attending their exhibitions, follow artists/galleries/curators you like on Instagram and comment on their posts, say yes to as many opportunities that come your way (within reason!), offer to help others with projects; you’d be amazed where things can take you. Don’t worry if you make mistakes or if projects don’t work out, you’ll look back and see how that exploration influenced something you moved onto next.
Do you have a favourite place/hidden gem in London?
I spend a lot of time visiting the Royal Academy, The V&A, and Somerset House. I love historic buildings that show unexpected contemporary art alongside permanent historic collections, or outside in beautiful gardens. The Royal Society of Sculptors, and its lovely building, is a bit of a hidden gem and if you haven’t been, do! I tend to find most hidden gems outside London, such as the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, or Blain|Southern’s annual sculpture series at Cliveden House. Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford has developed a curated art programme led by Lizzie Collins, Director at Zuleika Gallery. I also love the Ashmolean Museum and Waddesdon Manor. If you do a bit of digging there are always surprises to be found and often they are free to see.
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 Hannah 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.
